It is an amasement of sorts as rioters have started fires and pelting cars with bricks in Brussels following Belgium’s shock 2-0 loss to Morocco.
Sporadic riots broke out in Brussels, the capital of Belgium after the European country lost to Morocco in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Police have had to seal off parts of the city centre, deployed water cannons and fire tear gas to disperse crowds as violence broke out following the match.
Meanwhile, dozens of unfazed rioters set steps on fire and pelted cars with bricks, before police moved in when one person suffered facial injuries, according to a police spokesperson.
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Following this rather ugly development, Brussels mayor Philippe Close urged soccer fans to stay away from the city centre and said authorities were doing their utmost to keep order in the streets. Even subway and tram traffic had to be interrupted on police orders.
Very surely, Morocco’s victory over Belgium was a major upset at the tournament and was enthusiastically celebrated by fans with Moroccan immigrant roots in many Belgian cities.
However, it was not immediately clear how many people were detained during the disturbances.
The mayor said, “I strongly condemn the incidents that occurred this afternoon.
In his words, “The police have already acted harshly. So I advise supporters not to come to the centre. The police are doing everything they can to maintain public order.”
Interestingly, Morocco earned the historic win as second-half goals from substitutes Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal were enough to defeat Belgium at Al Thumama Stadium.
Also, the Moroccans thought they had taken the lead in the first half, only for Hakim Ziyech’s whipped free-kick strike to be ruled out for offside due to an infringement from Romain Saiss.
In any case, the North Africans made the breakthrough in somewhat similar circumstances in the 73rd minute.
Unwittingly, Sabiri curled a free-kick into the box which evaded everyone, including Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Though Saiss was again loitering in the vicinity of the Belgian goalie, this time, he was onside and the goal counted.
Eventually, Belgium were caught cold in stoppage time when Ziyech latched upon a loose ball, cutting it back for substitute Aboukhlal to steer a brilliant effort beyond Courtois and into the top corner at the near post.
Thus, Aboukhlal sealed the win for Morocco in the 93rd minute.
This victory has put the Moroccan team top of the Group F standings on four points from two games, following their creditable 0-0 opening draw with Croatia.
In this vein, Roberto Martinez’s disappointing Belgium – the number-two ranked team in the world by FIFAFIFA and third-place finishers in Russia four years ago – are second with three points after their tense opening win against Canada.
