Police fired tear gas and water cannons at a crowd in central Brussels on Sunday as violence erupted following Belgium’s 2-0 loss to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Politico reported.

a riot of joy after Belgium’s defeat by MoroccoPhoto: video shooting

Police intervened in the Christmas market area in the center of the Belgian capital, and some public transport lines were ordered to stop.

Supporters lit fires and threw stones at cars. A group of young Moroccans broke into a rental car and scooters, according to a BBC journalist who was on the scene.

Rajae Mouan, a Moroccan-born Belgian politician who is co-president of the Francophone Ecolo party, condemned the violence. “There is no excuse for the violent behavior of these ‘supporters,'” she wrote on Twitter. “True fans celebrate with joy and respect.”

Most of the victory celebrations in Brussels, organized by the city’s large Moroccan community, were peaceful. The Moroccan diaspora in Belgium numbers about half a million people.

Philippe Clouse, the Socialist mayor of Brussels, also condemned the violence and advised supporters not to come to the city centre.

​Morocco made a new surprise at the World Cup 2022 in Qatar and defeated Belgium in the second stage of Group F (2:0), and Roberto Martinez’s students did not easily survive the defeat against the Africans.

Belgium are 3rd in Group F after defeat by Morocco.