Morocco Victory Over Netherlands Sparks Clashes As Fans Face Dutch Police in The Hague
Morocco Victory Over Netherlands Sparks Clashes As Fans Face Dutch Police in The Hague Published By, Last Updated: June 30, 2026, 15:58 IST Moroccan fans
Morocco Victory Over Netherlands Sparks Clashes As Fans Face Dutch Police in The Hague Published By, Last Updated: June 30, 2026, 15:58 IST Moroccan fans clash with Dutch police in The Hague after FIFA World Cup victory over the Netherlands, celebrations in Schilderswijk turn tense with arrests. Rapid Read Moroccan fans celebrate after their team won on penalty kicks in the World Cup round of 32 game against Netherlands (Picture credit: AP) Moroccan fans clashed with the Dutch police in The Hague after Morocco knocked the Netherlands out of the FIFA World Cup. According to AFP, in The Hague’s Schilderswijk district, jubilant scenes unfolded as fans draped in Moroccan flags danced and celebrated in the streets, with car horns blaring and firecrackers lighting up the night.
Several hundred supporters gathered at a busy intersection in the district, kicking a football into the air, celebrating with passengers in passing vehicles and, at times, climbing onto cars amidst the festivities. But festivities in Schilderswijk turned violent as police intervened. Watch the video here About an hour into the celebrations, however, the atmosphere turned tense as riot police moved in, using water cannons and baton charges to disperse the crowd. AFP reporters witnessed around a dozen arrests, with police striking multiple young men on the legs with batons before pinning them to the ground. The detainees were then handcuffed and taken away in police vans. Dutch police on bicycles played a cat-and-mouse game with youths through the streets, but there was no major damage caused.
Despite repeated requests, people declined to speak to the media, preferring to remain anonymous. Many of those on the streets wore balaclavas or other face coverings. The last-32 game in Monterrey ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw after extra time, leading to a nail-biting penalty shoot-out. After a series of missed penalties from both teams, Morocco forward Ismael Saibari, who plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, converted the decisive spot-kick to seal a last-16 clash against co-hosts Canada. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi said that Moroccan football is now reaping the rewards of the senior team’s historic 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign, when they became the first African country to reach the semi-finals.
News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: June 30, 2026, 15:58 IST News sports football Morocco Victory Over Netherlands Sparks Clashes As Fans Face Dutch Police in The Hague Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
