Morocco World Cup win sparks celebration, arrests in Netherlands

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Morocco’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win over the Netherlands sparked scenes of joy on Tuesday in The Hague, home to a large Moroccan community, but also violent arrests amid clashes with police.

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In the Schilderswijk district of the city, AFP reporters saw fans draped in Moroccan flags dancing and cheering in the streets, as car horns blared and firecrackers exploded.

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Several hundred supporters gathered at a crossroads in the district, kicking a ball in the air and celebrating wildly with passengers of passing vehicles, sometimes jumping on cars.

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Around one hour into the festivities, however, the mood soured as riot police arrived on the scene, deploying water cannon and conducting baton charges to clear the crowd.

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AFP reporters saw around a dozen arrests, with police pinning several young men to the ground after striking them in the legs with batons. Handcuffed, they were driven away in police vans.

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Dutch police on bicycles played a cat-and-mouse game with youths through the streets but there was no major damage caused.

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Despite multiple attempts, people declined to speak to the media, preferring to keep their identities secret. Many on the streets wore balaclavas or other face coverings.

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The last-32 match in Monterrey ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw after extra time, leading to a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.

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After several misses on both sides, Morocco striker Ismael Saibari, who plays in the Netherlands for PSV Eindhoven, slotted home the winning penalty to set up a last-16 clash with co-hosts Canada.

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AFP

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