‘Like madmen’: Dutch deputy leader slams Moroccan football fans after riots

 

‘Like madmen’: Dutch deputy leader slams Moroccan football fans after riots

Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius strongly condemned Moroccan football fans, accusing them of acting like "madmen" after street riots broke out following Morocco's 2-0 defeat to France in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals.

Context of the Unrest

• The Trigger: The unrest occurred after Morocco was eliminated from the tournament.
• Geographic Spread: Riot police had to intervene to disperse aggressive crowds in major Dutch hubs, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague.
• Fan Misbehavior: Disappointed supporters targeted law enforcement by throwing glass bottles, pelting officers with eggs, and firing dangerous fireworks directly at police and journalists.
• Pattern of Violence: Yeşilgöz-Zegerius highlighted that these fans misbehave and cause destruction "regardless of whether Morocco wins or loses". Disturbance was also reported earlier in the tournament when Morocco eliminated the Netherlands.

Political Fallout

• Immigration Debate: Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, known for her firm stance on migration, used the incident to reinforce her position that the influx of people into the Netherlands must be curbed quickly.
• Coalition Tension: Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders leveraged the riots to criticize the governing coalition, which includes Yeşilgöz's VVD party alongside Prime Minister Rob Jetten's liberal D66 and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), accusing them of allowing "scum" into the country.
• Broader European Impact: The post-match chaos was not isolated to the Netherlands; severe clashes between Morocco fans and police also triggered hospitalizations and arrests on Edgware Road in London, UK.