Riot police charge as fans hit by water cannon after Netherlands vs Morocco penalty shootout
Police had to intervene in celebrations across the Netherlands after Morocco defeat Oranje in a dramatic World Cup penalty shootout and see jubilant scenes
Water cannons were used on fans as riot police were forced to intervene in the Netherlands following the nation's World Cup exit to Morocco. The country's Moroccan population launched into jubilant celebrations in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after their side earned a dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands.
High-profile players such as Noussair Mazraoui, Sofyan Amrabat, and Anass Salah-Eddine were all born in the Netherlands before choosing to represent Morocco, as Hakim Ziyech had done in the past, adding another layer of rivalry between the countries. A 400,000-strong community of Moroccans live in the Netherlands.
Car horns and fireworks were heard across the country's major cities, including Amsterdam and Utrecht, but the happy scenes were marred by some unsavoury actions. In Hague, a large police presence was deployed in the Schilderswijk district ahead of the match.
Local authorities reported that police officers were 'pelted with fireworks and stones' before riot police charged and a water cannon was deployed as arrests were made. It was described as a 'cat-and-mouse game' between fans and the police as the latter attempted to clear the area.
As cars attempted to pass through the area, it was claimed that one was attacked with someone jumping on the vehicle's roof before the driver quickly got away.
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De Telegraaf reported that police were forced to intervene in Utrecht as 'hooded individuals' knocked over safety barriers. They claimed that it was a 'dangerous situation' for commuters before troublemakers were dispersed.
It was also said to be 'chaos' in Amsterdam, while Rotterdam's West-Kruiskade neighbourhood had to be evacuated after more than two hours of celebrations. Celebrations were permitted for a long time before police decided to end the festivities.
Police made announcements over a megaphone on multiple occasions before the arrest unit was deployed. In all locations, normality appeared to be restored by 8.30am.
Cody Gakpo looked to have secured victory for the Netherlands before Issa Diop secured a 91st-minute equaliser. The Dutch side then failed to be clinical in the penalty shootout as Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville all missed from the spot to crash out of the World Cup.
Head coach Ronald Koeman has come in for criticism following his side's exit. "This defeat is Koeman's fault, because I didn't recognise this Dutch team," Zlatan Ibrahimovic said on FOX Sports.
"He lost with an identity that is not the Dutch identity. That makes me angry. I was always taught: attack, attack, attack. This is not the Dutch identity.
"Today, Koeman looked like an Italian coach playing not to lose, whereas the Netherlands always plays to win. If you lose, at least lose with your own identity and don't change it.
"This was not the Netherlands I am used to seeing. You can also tell by the way they played that they didn't feel comfortable. The possession was gone, the attacking football was gone...It just looked very bad, and that was all Koeman's fault. I thought it was absolutely nothing, really nothing at all."
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