Belgian authorities and institutions came out strongly on Monday against the violence that marred the Belgian Cup football final between Club Brugge and RSC Anderlecht.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (Mouvement Réformateur, MR) called for the careful identification of those responsible for the violence, emphasising the need for justice to take its course and for those guilty to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Condemning the acts as “unacceptable”, Mr Quintin said he had been in constant contact with the relevant authorities since Sunday and would remain so in the coming days to assess the situation and explore ways to improve future security arrangements.
Through his spokesperson, Mr Quintin announced that he has officially requested an evaluation report on the events from the relevant authorities.
The minister’s spokesperson also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance security, including strengthening football-related laws and a previously announced merger of police zones in Brussels.
For its part the Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities, UNIA, announced that it has initiated an investigation into alleged racism following Sunday's unrest, during which hooligans attacked several businesses in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean and Jette and assaulted residents.
Videos on social media showed particularly brutal scenes: shattered shop windows, damaged street furniture, and fireworks launched into crowds, creating a high-tension atmosphere. Police made 63 arrests, while some 80 persons were injured, including four police officers.
Unia strongly condemned Sunday's violence. It said it had not received any reports from victims, but would contact the prosecutors and police conducting the investigation into the unrest.
“These are initial steps to gather information and assess if there is a discriminatory motive behind the violence, which is difficult to conclude based on videos alone,” Anne Salmon, a spokesperson for the centre, explained. “If we have evidence of a racist motive, we can declare ourselves as an injured party, offer assistance to victims, and potentially become a civil party if a trial occurs.”
Club Brugge itself denounced the violence involving its supporters, saying it would cooperate with the police to identify those involved. "Football should never be a cover for violence,” it said.
Mayors of the affected municipalities also condemned the incidents, highlighting their racist nature.
