Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan mistaken for terrorist by hotel guests

The Roma player saw the funny side of the incident

Mark Critchley
Thursday 19 November 2015 10:52 EST
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Radja Nainggolan and friends pose with police
Radja Nainggolan and friends pose with police (Twitter / @_Naoufal)

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Roma and Belgium international midfielder Radja Nainggolan has been reportedly mistaken for a terrorist while relaxing at a hotel with friends.

According to a report by Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure, guests at the Radisson Blu Astrid hotel in Antwerp called police on Tuesday night, worried by the appearance of the Belgian-Indonesian midfielder.

When the officers arrived, however, they immediately recognised Nainggolan and realised that the guests had make a mistake.

Tensions are currently high across Europe following last Friday’s terror attacks in Paris and, understanding the guests’ error, Nainggolan graciously posed for a photograph with the police officers following the incident.

Naoufal Attar, one of the men socialising with Nainggolan on Tuesday night, later tweeted the photo, adding that the police had been called because guests thought the Roma midfielder was ‘acting suspicious’.

“Obviously, I have a look that is scary,” Nainggolan told La Dernière Heure. "Fortunately the police recognized me.”

Nainggolan was included in Belgium’s squad to face Spain earlier this week, one of two international fixtures called off amid security fears.

He has since returned to his club side, who currently sit third in Serie A and face a trip to 16th-placed Bologna this weekend.

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