As hooligans go home, it’s relief for Belgium

“After the incidents we saw before the tournament and at the start, there was tension in several towns. I presume that tension will be much less now,” Monique de Knop, a senior interior ministry official, told a news conference.

“That is not to say that these (Germany and England) are the only countries that cause problems. There are hooligans from many nations, so we will not be letting our guard down.” that means a continuation of the policy of zero tolerance towards soccer-related violence and a tough response to any signs of trouble.

Hundreds of mainly English fans were arrested after clashes last weekend in Brussels and Charleroi, south of the capital. European soccer authorities had threatened to throw England out if their fans misbehaved again.

Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure left its readers in no doubt about its sense of relief.

“Hooligans, go home” the French-language daily declared in English on its front page.

“Taking account of the numerous incidents in the last few days, it is with some relief that we see the English players and above all their supporters going home.”

England’s departure with Germany removes the danger of some high-risk pairings in the latter stages which would have had the organisers in a cold sweat.

If England had secured a quarter-finals berth, they would have faced Italy in Brussels’ former Heysel Stadium, where 39 people died when a wall crumbled during fighting before the 1985 European Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool.

Any matches between Turkey — a surprise qualifier for the quarter-finals — and England or Germany would also have been high risk, especially after the death of two English fans in Istanbul before a match between Leeds and Galatasary in April.

Belgium’s elimination on Monday was also, in some ways, a blessing for the organisers.

It means Belgians are now less likely to see their own people having tear gas and water cannon aimed at them.

Belgians have been caught up innocently in the violence, and at other times have battled their police, who have been accused of heavy-handed tactics when faced by celebrating soccer fans.