Antwerp Police Arrest 7 After Morocco Match Disorder
Antwerp police arrested seven people, including three minors, on the Turnhoutsebaan in Borgerhout during the early hours of July 10, following Morocco’s 2-0 World Cup quarterfinal loss to France. The arrests were made between midnight and the early hours after individuals set off fireworks toward a police van and wore balaclavas, according to VRT NWS.
Context: A Night of Contrasts
The incident occurred against the backdrop of what authorities and community organizers described as a largely calm evening. Over 700 supporters had gathered peacefully at a public viewing event at Spoor Oost in Borgerhout, organized by community groups SAAMO, JES Antwerpen, Oostnatie, and the Borgerhout district. The event proceeded without incident, with police describing it as “vlekkeloos” (flawless).
Earlier in the evening, tensions had flared briefly in the Abdijstraat on the Kiel, where fireworks were also used, but no arrests were made there.
The Arrests
According to police spokesperson Kim Bastiaens, as reported by HLN, the seven individuals were arrested for disturbing public order and endangering traffic safety. Two of those arrested were wearing balaclavas, which is not permitted. All seven are from Antwerp or the surrounding area, and none of the three minors are younger than 16.
The Belga news agency confirmed that police combi vans were pelted with fireworks on the Turnhoutsebaan, a major commercial artery in Borgerhout that has historically been a focal point for both celebrations and tensions after Morocco matches. No injuries were reported.
Community Perspective
Ali El Moussaoui, project leader at community organization SAAMO and co-organizer of the public viewing event, expressed disappointment at the post-match disturbances. “It’s not nice to be in the news that way,” he told VRT NWS. “We try to talk about it with young people in the neighborhoods where we are active in the days after.”
El Moussaoui highlighted a recurring pattern noted by local youth: many of those causing trouble come from outside the area. “Many local young people say that a lot of people from outside Antwerp come to the Turnhoutsebaan to cause trouble. Even from the Netherlands,” he said. “At that point it’s no longer about the match; these are young people with bad intentions who descend on a busy axis like the Turnhoutsebaan.”
Broader European Context
The disturbances in Antwerp were part of a wider pattern across Europe following the France-Morocco match. According to VoetbalBelgie, incidents were also reported in the Netherlands — where four arrests were made in The Hague’s Schilderswijk and eight in Amsterdam, where an emergency order was declared — as well as in Düsseldorf, Paris, and London.
Analysis: A Calibrated Response
Compared to previous Morocco match-related events — most notably December 2022, when nearly 90 people were arrested in Antwerp alone after Morocco’s victory over Belgium — the scale of Friday’s disturbance was relatively contained. Police described the overall atmosphere as “opvallend kalm” (remarkably calm) and made only administrative arrests, suggesting a calibrated response that avoided escalation.
The successful public viewing at Spoor Oost, which drew over 700 peaceful attendees with the help of approximately 30 volunteers and stewards, underscores the effectiveness of community-organized events in providing safe gathering spaces. A background article by VRT NWS noted that organizers had arranged the event in response to high demand from the Moroccan community, many of whom live in small apartments with limited space to gather.
What’s Next
As the World Cup continues — with Belgium set to face Spain in the semifinals — authorities and community organizations will be watching closely. The Antwerp police have not yet announced whether formal charges will be filed beyond the administrative arrests for public order disturbance, and it remains unclear whether the three minors will face different legal procedures than the adults. Community organization SAAMO plans to continue its dialogue sessions with young people in the affected neighborhoods in the coming days.