Calm down in major cities after the deployment of ME against rioting Moroccan fans

The celebration of the Moroccan national team’s victory over Belgium led to riots in several Dutch cities. Riot police were deployed in The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, which quickly brought the situation under control everywhere.

In Amsterdam-West on the Mercatorplein, a crowd caused a nuisance. Fires were set and fireworks were lit. Riot police were deployed to clear the square and by half past eight they succeeded. Police have yet to comment on any arrests.

Around Rotterdam’s Kruisplein, a group of about 500 young people threw glass and fireworks at the police. According to journalists from Rijnmond Jacco van Giessen, the peace has returned to the center of Rotterdam.

Two officers were injured in the clashes. One has something on his head and the other has suffered hearing damage. Both were taken to the hospital. Two people were arrested in total, the number is expected to increase.

On Vaillantplein in The Hague, in the Transvaal district, supporters of the Moroccan national team opened their car doors to passers-by. When the atmosphere turned dark, riot police were deployed to disperse the crowd.

It was also silent in The Hague around a quarter to eight. “Youth workers and neighborhood fathers helped a lot during the evacuation of the square,” police said. One person has been arrested, for whom the spokesman has not yet been able to pronounce.

Pictures of riots in various places:

In Brussels he was already restless before the match. The youths launched fireworks in the center and destruction was caused.

During the match, things really got out of hand at the Boulevard Maurice Lemonnier near the South Station. Hundreds of youths set fires and threw bottles.

The pictures show how the rioters sit in a moving car during the game, which then lies upside down on the street. One of the young men empties a fire extinguisher, while others crash into the vehicle. Electric scooters are also set on fire and car windows are smashed.

The youths were driven away with water cannons and the deployment of riot police. Police have urged people to avoid the area around Zuidlaan.

There was also revelry. The Mercatorplein in Amsterdam-West filled up with supporters of the Moroccan national team this afternoon, he reports NH News. Then there was just partying. Supporters lit fireworks and waved flares.

In Utrecht the Victory was celebrated with exuberance, he writes RTV Utrecht. In Lombok district, party supporters walked the streets. In Amersfoort too the revelry was great. A fire was started there at the De Stier roundabout. The police were there to keep an eye on everything.

See images of Amsterdam, Brussels and Doha here.

In the homeland of the Moroccan team, people took to the streets en masse to celebrate the victory. For example, in the capital Rabat, where a party was celebrated by an angry mob.

The Moroccan team beat the Red Devils 2-0. Saïss and Aboukhlal scored in the 73rd minute and added time at the end of the second half. The Belgians had much more ball possession, but were unable to take advantage of one of their three shots on target.

A number of Moroccan players have Dutch roots, such as Ziyech, Mazraoui, Amrabat and second goal scorer Aboukhlal. They started their football career in Dutch clubs like Ajax and PSV.