On Monday night, soccer fans engaged in clashes with police in The Hague while celebrating in Casablanca after Morocco triumphed over the Netherlands in a penalty shootout, marking the earliest exit for the Dutch team in World Cup history.
The Netherlands is home to a significant Moroccan community, and while there were jubilant Moroccan fans celebrating their team’s success, some disturbances also occurred.
According to police in The Hague, there was a “heavy display of fireworks” in the Schilderswijk district, and officers faced fireworks and stones being hurled at them.
To manage the situation, riot police intervened, utilizing water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Authorities reported that “several individuals have been arrested for public violence.”
As tensions rose during the penalty shootout, a fan favorite coffee shop in Morocco’s largest city, Casablanca, erupted in cheers when Ismael Saibari scored the game-winning kick, propelling his team into the round of 16.
Celebrations quickly overflowed onto the streets, where smoke bombs were set off, and jubilant fans filled the air with honks and shouts, celebrating late into the night.
Despite the late hour and typical work obligations, many ecstatic fans gathered on Casablanca’s main boulevards around 5 a.m., dancing, waving Moroccan flags, and chanting, “Canada, we’re coming for you.”
The upcoming match for Morocco will be against co-hosts Canada on Saturday.
In a previous encounter, Morocco had won 2-1 against Canada in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.
Back in Morocco, the excitement is palpable, with supporters hoping for a historic achievement similar to their last World Cup performance when they made history by being the first African team to reach the semi-finals.
