The final evening of the Belgian Cup was marked by shocking violence in Brussels. In Molenbeek, clashes broke out, making several injured and causing a keen stir. Groups of far -right supporters are implicated, how to explain their behavior?
This Sunday was to be a celebration of Belgian football. But instead of the cries of joy of the supporters, it was the police sirens and the panic scenes that resonated in Brussels. On the sidelines of the Belgian Cup final, violent incidents broke out, especially in the Ribaucourt district in Molenbeek.
A group of approximately one hundred individuals, dressed in black, hooded and armed with batons, invaded the streets of the neighborhood. Witnesses report violent attacks against passers -by and shops, including a targeted tiling store without apparent reason. The inhabitants are in shock, questioning the lack of anticipation of the police.
Ultra groups identified
For sociologist Jean-Michel de Waele, a specialist in hooliganism, these violence is not the result of chance. According to him, the attackers belong to a structured group: the North Fanatics 13, ultras of the Brugge club known for their extreme right positions.
“It is very surprising to see that far -right supporters organized, structured and known can walk like that in Brussels, organize attacks on goods and people and that the police were not present”he is surprised.
A racist attack?
The very location of the attack questions. The Molenbeek district is not on the direct journey to the stadium. “There was no need to go through there”, insists the sociologist. “Molenbeek has become a symbol for a whole part of the population. And yes, there was the certain will to seek problems and to break from Arabic”.
The motivations of these groups therefore seem clearly racial and ideological. Images broadcast in recent months show some of these supporters in the process of nazi greetings. “They are even proud of it” Adds Jean-Michel de Waele.
A violent but organized minority
However, the specialist recalls that this is a minority. “The overwhelming majority of supporters from Anderlecht or Bruges are very peaceful”.
But for this extremist fringe, football becomes a pretext for expressing latent violence. “There are people who need to find land to fight at the first opportunity. It is worrying and it should be a real subject for reflection for our societies”he insists.
Police supervision questioned
The lack of support for supporters before the events is strongly criticized. “In other countries, supporters crossing the city to go to a match are supervised by the police”recalls Jean-Michel de Waele. A security gap that raises questions while the acts committed are clearly of a planned organization. Hooligans Hooligans Anderlecht Cup of Belgium Hardware Brussels
