Belgian-Moroccan Footballer Ilias Chair Avoids Prison, Sentenced to Community Service for 2020 Brawl

The events took place in the summer of 2020, during a kayaking trip between the Belgian Ardennes and northern France. A simple discussion between participants at the exit degenerated into a general brawl upon the arrival of the buses supposed to bring them back to their starting point.

Niels T., a collateral victim of the brawl, was hit in the head with a stone, causing him to lose consciousness. Seriously injured, he was hospitalized and found himself incapacitated for several months. His sister and her husband were also injured during the altercation.

Alerted, the French police were able to identify all the participants in the fight. A week later, the victims filed a complaint in Belgium. The investigation allowed Ilias Chair, Nora H. and Jaber C. to be identified as the main suspects.

After pleading not guilty at first instance, Ilias Chair changed his strategy on appeal. He acknowledged his involvement in the brawl and compensated the victims.

"He will have to perform a 150-hour community service sentence," said his lawyer, Me Scheerlinck. The latter expressed confidence in the absence of recidivism of his client, stressing that "Ilias Chair has never received a red card throughout his career and that his criminal record is clean."