Brussels experienced a tumultuous wave of violence over the weekend, ignited by a football match that saw supporters of Club Brugge wreak havoc in various neighborhoods. The city’s mayor attributed this unrest to a deep-seated racial animosity towards Belgium’s multicultural capital.
On Sunday, fans clad in black hoodies descended upon Molenbeek, an area known for its significant migrant and predominantly Muslim community. They vandalized shops and physically assaulted residents, instilling fear and chaos in the local populace. Brussels Mayor Philippe Close expressed his outrage, stating,
“They hate Brussels because it’s a multicultural city. For them, the image of Brussels is a hellhole. These hooligans have no place in Brussels. They are not welcome in my city.”
Police response and community backlash
In the wake of the violence, local law enforcement arrested 63 individuals, working tirelessly into the night to restore order. Some residents of Brussels fought back against the assailants, leading to further confrontations. One supporter from Brugge sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, as confirmed by the Brussels prosecutor’s office.
The rioting persisted into Monday, as youth from Brussels launched retaliatory attacks near King Baudouin Stadium and in central locations, including the city’s major train station. According to police chief Michel Goovaerts, these incidents were exacerbated when local rioters hijacked a pro-Palestinian protest to incite disorder.
Criticism of local governance and calls for action
Belgian authorities and football federations have roundly condemned the violent outbursts. Belgian interior ministry spokesperson Olivier Schotte deemed the events “shocking and unacceptable,” emphasizing the ongoing efforts to identify those responsible for the clashes. The Belgian Pro League firmly stated,
“It is crystal clear that a number of hooligans used the cup final as a pretext to commit organized crime in Brussels.”
Club Brugge publicly distanced itself from the violence, denouncing the actions of the so-called supporters and pledging to cooperate with law enforcement to identify offenders. The recent surge in violence, which includes 11 reported shootings within the first few weeks of 2025, has ignited criticism towards local authorities. The absence of a regional government since June has further complicated the city’s ability to respond effectively to these rising challenges.
Mayor Close raised pertinent questions regarding the accessibility of tickets to known hooligans, expressing his frustration:
“How is it possible that these hooligans, who are very well known by the police department and also by the football clubs, can have the tickets for these matches? And this is why I’m so angry. It’s always the same story.”
While violence among rival football supporters is not a new phenomenon, Close highlighted the particularly aggressive stance of Club Brugge fans, which he attributes to “extreme right-wing” ideologies. He urged football organizations to impose stringent sanctions on these groups.
Concerns over law enforcement effectiveness were also voiced by victims of the recent violence, who criticized the delayed police response during the chaos. One victim recounted being assaulted while trying to protect his elderly father and lamented that officers took 20 minutes to arrive at the scene.
In response to these alarming incidents, Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin announced plans for a comprehensive merger of Brussels’ six police zones into a unified command structure, which is anticipated to enhance the coordination and speed of police responses to future crises.
Christophe Vandeviver, a criminology professor at Ghent University, posited that the hooligans, irrespective of their political leanings, are fundamentally troublemakers seeking to generate chaos. He emphasized the need for identifying these individuals and imposing bans from attending matches to curb such violent outbreaks.
Mayor Close echoed these sentiments, asserting that football clubs must recognize the identities of these supporters and take decisive action against them, stating,
“Football teams and the football league need to take very hard sanctions against these groups of supporters. They know who they are.”