Morocco fans mourn World Cup exit in mostly calm night

Thousands of Morocco supporters took to the streets in Dutch cities on Thursday night after their team’s 2-0 defeat by France knocked them out of the World Cup quarter-finals.

The mood was largely one of disappointment. In Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, fans set off fireworks and drove through the streets sounding their horns, and most went home once police asked crowds to disperse.

Amsterdam police described the atmosphere during the match as “good-natured and festive”, and said most supporters left disappointed after the final whistle. Rotterdam police told broadcaster Rijnmond the mood in the city had been “generally pretty good”.

Riot police were still called in at several spots in all three big cities to clear streets and squares. In Amsterdam’s Nieuw-West district, small groups stayed behind, setting fires and throwing fireworks at officers. In Rotterdam, riot police cleared the 1e Middellandstraat in the early hours. Some arrests were made.

It was the third time in ten days that a Morocco match has brought fans onto the streets and riot police out with them, and the calmest of the three. The team’s win over the Netherlands on penalties on June 30 was followed by celebrations and a handful of arrests, while last weekend’s 3-0 win over Canada saw heavier disturbances in The Hague, where 29 people were arrested and riot police used a water cannon.

Morocco, the reigning African champions, had been aiming to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the second tournament running. France go on to play the winner of Friday’s quarter-final between Spain and Belgium.