Morocco’s exciting win in a penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands caused a big celebration on Tuesday in The Hague. This city has many Moroccan residents. But the joy turned sour with clashes between fans and police.
In the Schilderswijk area, AFP reporters saw fans with Moroccan flags dancing and cheering in the streets. Car horns were honking, and firecrackers were going off everywhere.
Several hundred fans gathered at a crossroads in the area. They kicked a ball around and celebrated with people in passing cars, sometimes jumping on the vehicles.
But about an hour into the fun, riot police showed up. They used water cannons and charged into the crowd to clear the area.
AFP reporters counted about a dozen arrests. Police pinned several young men to the ground after hitting their legs with batons. The arrested were handcuffed and taken away in police vans.
Dutch police on bicycles chased after youths through the streets, but there was no serious damage reported.
Despite many attempts, people did not want to talk to the media. They chose to keep their identities hidden. Many wore balaclavas or other face coverings.
The match in Monterrey ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw after extra time. This led to a tense penalty shoot-out.
After several misses from both teams, Morocco striker Ismael Saibari, who plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, scored the winning penalty. This victory sets up a last-16 match against co-hosts Canada.
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