Several players in the Burundian national handball team, who disappeared during the World Cup held in Croatia three weeks ago, have applied for asylum in Belgium.
At least ten players from the East African country's national under-19 team suddenly disappeared while taking part in the World Cup, held from 2 to 13 August in several cities in Croatia, the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county police department announced on 10 August. They were due to compete against Bahrain but did not show up, and no one from the team answered their mobile phones.
The police stressed at the time that efforts were underway to locate the players and determine the facts of their disappearance. Some media reports have suggested that the players may have planned their escape, using their visas to seek asylum in Europe.
'Not our responsibility'
The same players of the Burundian handball team that disappeared without a trace have now applied for asylum in Belgium, says State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor.
"I cannot comment on individual cases, but many of the Burundians who arrived in Belgium are under the responsibility of Croatia. This is also the case during a sporting competition for which Croatia has issued a visa," said de Moor.
Belgium is in the midst of an asylum reception crisis: many people who have requested international protection in the country are ending up on the streets rather than receiving the shelter and healthcare to which they are entitled. This has been exacerbated following the recent, controversial decision by de Moor to no longer provide shelter to single men.
De Moor's cabinet says that the handball team's arrival will further weigh on the reception network if they apply for asylum and start the process in Belgium. "Our services are therefore contacting Croatia to organise their return."
However, this is only possible if they are of age. According to the Croatian local police, they are all 17-year-olds and therefore considered to be unaccompanied minors. This also means they are still entitled to shelter in Belgium.
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The State Secretary argued that, due to the "diplomatic poker game" played by Serbia – which opened the gate to Europe by not requesting visas for Burundians – and Croatia's asylum policy, more than 1,500 Burundians applied for political asylum in Belgium last year.
"The transit of asylum seekers to different European countries is exactly what is wrong with European asylum policy," she told Het Laatste Nieuws, adding that this is why the European Migration Pact is needed, as it also contains measures to combat this type of transit.
