Thousands of Moroccan fans gathered in city centres across Europe following their dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Spain at the 2022 World Cup, although after several hours there were reports of clashes with police in Brussels and Granada.
Morocco booked their place into the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time in their history after a 3-0 win on penalties after the match had ended in a goalless draw.
The result sent frenzied Moroccan fans to the streets of cities across Europe, where they have been described as the Pride of the Arab world, for reaching the World Cup Quarter Finals.
They will play Portugal who hammered Switzerland 6-1 – despite dropping Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench.
In Granada, Spain, arrests were made following sporadic clashes with Moroccan fans
During the game, Spain dominated possession but Morocco’s defence held firm, restricting the Iberian giants to a handful of chances.
Jubilant Moroccan players lifted out their head coach Walid Regragiu following the biggest shock so far of the tournament.
Celebrations across Spain, which has some 800,000 Moroccan residents, were mostly peaceful, though Spanish media reported a brief scuffle between Morocco and Spain fans in a bar in the southern city of Huelva. No injuries or arrests were reported.
In Qatar, Moroccan fans clashed briefly with police outside the stadium before the game started.
Ten days ago riots broke out in Belgium and the Netherlands as Morocco fans celebrated beating Belgium in the group stage in Qatar.
In central Paris, cars started honking almost immediately after Morocco’s surprise win Tuesday, and crowds of people streamed toward the Champs-Elysees to celebrate. Men and women, in business suits or track suits, from teenage to middle-aged, cheered or raised their hands in victory.
