Right-wing party president: Moroccan football 'fans' enjoying Europe's benefits trample on its values – video
Moroccan football fans going on a rampage in Brussels after Morocco had defeated Belgium in the World Cup has triggered general outcry over the weekend. Several French politicians responded to the rioting, all condemning the vandalism.
Moroccans living in Belgium celebrated their football team’s 2-0 victory against Belgium in the World Cup with shocking destruction and vandalism, wreaking havoc in the cities of Brussels and Liege. The rioters attacked police officers and journalists, looted shops and vandalised a police station, causing substantial material damage.
A video recorded on a street in the Belgian capital shows Moroccan fans throwing projectiles at police.
Moroccan fans continue vandalizing and attacking the police in Brussels after Morocco defeated Belgium 2-0 at the World Cup in Qatar.
🇧🇪🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/9QlKCckcqo
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 27, 2022
Brussels resembled a disaster zone. Another footage shows a barricade set on fire in the middle of a road. Police arriving at the scene used water cannons to disperse the aggressive mob.
🚨VIDEO: Riots in Brussels, Belgiumpic.twitter.com/MnujmdYbBP
— Breaking News (@NewsJunkieBreak) November 27, 2022
Moroccan fans destroyed street furniture and overturned cars.
International press reports that Belgian fans are rioting in Brussels after Belgium lost 2-0 to Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar an hour ago.
Videos seem to suggest that it is rather Moroccan fans who are rioting. pic.twitter.com/9mVfpkmFk4
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 27, 2022
The center of Brussels went up in flames after the match, with burning car wrecks and barricades on fire.
The center of Brussels is on fire after the match. 🇲🇦🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/D0zznXZ00d
— Yassin Akouh (@Yassin_Akouh) November 27, 2022
#Bruxelles #Belgique : La situation semble toujours chaotique, des supporters marocains provoquent des incendies dans la ville pour célébrer la victoire du Maroc #BELMAR #Maroc pic.twitter.com/Zzt1r7deib
— Alex (@AlexLeroy90) November 27, 2022
The means of public transport were not spared during the senseless destruction. One video shows as fans vandalise the entrance to Lemonnier metro station.
They break the gate of the Lemonnier metro stop. #Brussels pic.twitter.com/aS529AGF8K
— Yassin Akouh (@Yassin_Akouh) November 27, 2022
Rioters also vandalised traffic lights in several places and their frenzied „celebration” also targeted shops, with Moroccan soccer fans smashing shop windows and looting.
Voici des images de #Bruxelles après la victoire du #Maroc contre la #Belgique.
Magasins pillés, sapins des Noël brûlés, forces de l’ordre attaqués, etc …#CoupeDuMonde #Mar #BEL pic.twitter.com/pXuz74Zc4K
— Limongi Quentin (@LQuentin_) November 27, 2022
After the rioting, Brussels looked like a war-torn area, with debris, garbage and burning cars everywhere.
Le match Belgique-Maroc dérape complètement á #Bruxelles#BELMAR #Brusselspic.twitter.com/FnbJ8EBA8b
— Infos Bruxelles🇧🇪 (@Bruxelles_City) November 27, 2022
A video posted on social media shows a Moroccan man climbing up onto a balcony and tearing off an outstretched Belgian squad banner, while crowds gathering below cheered and applauded his every move. Right-wing French politicians also sounded off on the vandalism. National Rally Party chief Jordan Bardella, tweeted:
These people live in Europe, where they benefit from everything, and yet they exhibit their unbridled hatred of their host countries and trample on its values and desecrate its flag.
When will the naivety regarding the dangers of migration end?
Ces populations vivent en Europe, où elles bénéficient de tout, et pourtant elles manifestent leur haine décomplexée des pays d’accueil, piétinent toutes leurs valeurs et en méprisent le drapeau.
A quand la fin de la naïveté face au danger migratoire ? #BELMAR https://t.co/Ja0blV7jFj
— Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) November 27, 2022
On Europe1’s Monday morning show, Mr Bardella compared what happened in Brussels to the riot at the Stade de France in June, emphasizing that the profile of the vandals responsible for the chaos is always the same. The people in question were born in Belgium or France, but they do not belong there in spirit. Mr Bardella believes the hatred the vandals have expressed for their host country is unacceptable, adding that similar riots and acts of vandalism could be stopped by ending immigration.
Hier á Bruxelles comme avant-hier á Saint-Denis au Stade de France, ce sont toujours les mêmes profils á l’origine de scènes de chaos : des gens incontestablement d’ici, mais dont l’âme est ailleurs. Cette haine exprimée á l’égard d’un pays qui vous a accueilli est insupportable. pic.twitter.com/324oMqTaSj
— Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) November 28, 2022
Another right-wing politician, Damien Rieu, pointed out on Twitter that Belgium has never colonised Morocco, yet Moroccans hate it just as much as they hate France. According to the MP, this is why all references to historic grievances are nothing more than false pretexts.
La #Belgique n’a jamais colonisé le Maroc. Pourtant ils se comportent avec la même haine qu’avec la France. Toute la culpabilisation historique n’est donc qu’un prétexte bidon. #BELMAR #Bruxelles
— Damien Rieu (@DamienRieu) November 27, 2022