>
Belgian riot police fire tear gas and water cannons at violent crowds, set fires and vandalize cars in Brussels as world number 2 Belgium LOSE to Morocco 2-0 in another major World Cup in Qatar
- Police cordoned off parts of the city, deployed water cannons and fired tear gas
- Dozens of rioters set fire to stairs and pelted cars with stones after the match
- Police intervened when one person suffered facial injuries, a spokesperson said
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
Rioters have set fires and pelted cars with stones in Brussels following Belgium’s shock 2-0 defeat to Morocco at the World Cup.
Police had to seal off parts of the city center, deploy water cannons and fire tear gas to disperse the crowd as violence broke out after the match.
Dozens of rioters set fire to stairs and pelted cars with stones before police moved in when one person suffered facial injuries, a police spokesman said.
Brussels mayor Philippe Close urged football fans to stay away from the city center and said authorities were doing their utmost to maintain order in the streets. Even the metro and tram traffic had to be stopped by order of the police.
Fighting in Brussels after the World Cup football match between Belgium and Morocco tonight
Dozens of rioters set fire to stairs and pelted cars with stones in the capital before police raided
Rioters clash with police in a fire in the middle of a street in the Belgian capital
A fan holds a Moroccan flag in Brussels as electric scooters burn in the background after the World Cup match
Morocco’s victory came as a major shock to the tournament and was enthusiastically celebrated by fans with Moroccan immigrant roots in many Belgian cities.
It was not immediately clear how many people were arrested during the disturbances.
Mr Close said he has ordered police to make arrests and added: ‘I strongly condemn the incidents that took place this afternoon.
“The police have already acted harshly. I therefore advise supporters not to come to the center. The police are doing everything they can to maintain public order.’