Rabat – Videos circulating online have shown Spanish police in the enclave of Ceuta using physical force against Moroccan football fans celebrating the Atlas Lions’ win against Portugal in the World Cup.
“Enraged by Morocco’s victory over Portugal, police in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta break the arm of a peaceful #AtlasLions supporter with an unjustified hit from a baton,” Morocco Intelligence posted on Twitter.
?????| Enragés par la victoire du Maroc contre le Portugal, les policiers de l’enclave espagnole de Sebta cassent le bras à une pacifique supportrice des #AtlasLions avec un coup de matraque injustifié. pic.twitter.com/T8TXygnXvV
— Morocco Intelligence (@MoroccoIntel) December 11, 2022
While there has been some rioting and violence amid the Moroccan fans’ celebrations, most displays have been peaceful. Following the Atlas Lions’ qualification to the round of 16, reports showed that fans had formed “human walls” to prevent violence from breaking out.
“Just as the police were about to intervene you saw a large number of young people and adults form a human chain to ensure that everything passed peacefully and prevent trouble from reoccurring,” Belgian broadcaster VRT reported earlier in December.
Police in Paris arrested over 100 people on Saturday in relation to violence and damage of public property during the celebrations, with the total number of fans who took to the Champs-Elysees in the capital totaling over 20,000.
The celebrations have also been used by some political figures in Europe, especially those on the right, to fuel anti-immigrant rhetoric.
A contributor on French channel CNews said following Morocco’s win against Spain in the knockout rounds that hatred for France is the “fruit of multicultural, multi-ethnic societies.”
Meanwhile, Moroccan head coach Walid Regragui condemned the riots in a press conference at the World Cup, calling on fans to respectfully cheer on the national team.
“It’s very difficult to see that. You need to respect the country where you are born and live,” Regragui said, emphasizing that Moroccan culture teaches that they have to respect everyone.
On Saturday, Morocco defeated Portugal 1-0 in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals to become the first African and Arab country to ever reach the competition’s top four.
Having stolen the spotlight as the tournament’s underdog, the Atlas Lions now hope to defeat France in the semi-final on Wednesday and possibly make history by reaching the final match.
