Qatar 2022 World Cup: Riots erupt in Brussels after Morocco beat Belgium

Morocco and Belgium's tense football match Sunday left the two countries' streets in chaos, one in victory's euphoria, and the other in loss' bitter rage.

When Abdelhamid Sabiri's 73rd-minute free-kick bounced into the Belgian net, Moroccan streets roared with praises of 'sla w slam' - prayers and salvation for Islam's prophet- a Moroccan niche tradition in celebrating happy events.

Zakaria Aboukhlal's second goal during stoppage time drove hundreds of people to block the kingdom's streets, gathering together in an all-night celebration over Atlas Lions' surprise 2-0 victory against the second-best football team in the world. 

For the first time, people seemed happy to be stuck in traffic. 

Meanwhile, defeated Belgium, home to around 500,000 people of Moroccan origin, was more sensitive about its large Moroccan community's celebrations.

In Brussels, dozens of Moroccans burst into cheers, lighting torches and fireworks, and drove around hooting car horns and waving the Moroccan flag.

Tensions in #Brussels after the Belgium - Morocco match. 🇲🇦🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/g2txDyurRP

— Yassin Akouh (@Yassin_Akouh) November 27, 2022

Clashes reportedly erupted between the 'offended' Red Devils fans and the Atlas Lions supporters shortly after the match ended.

Around a hundred Belgian police officers mobilised, using water cannons and teargas to disperse the clashing crowds.

Residents were warned to avoid certain areas of the city centre and metro stations were closed and streets sealed off to limit the spread of the violence.

AFP said dozens of football fans smashed shop windows, threw fireworks and torched vehicles. 

"Even before the end of the match, dozens of people, including some wearing hoodies, sought confrontation with the police, which compromised public safety," Brussels police said in a statement.

"I condemn in the strongest terms the incidents of this afternoon. The police have already firmly intervened. I, therefore, advise against fans coming to the city centre. The police are doing all they can to maintain public order," tweeted the mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close.

"I have ordered the police to carry out arrests of the troublemakers."

Following the riot, Belgian police arrested 11 people.

Video images showed police with batons and shields sweeping the city centre. Riot police also dispersed fans in Amsterdam and The Hague.

Next up for Morocco is Canada on Thursday to decide the team's fate in the World Cup. Though, Sunday's victory left not only Morocco but the whole region in ecstasy, where nothing seems impossible for the Alas Lions to achieve.