Major Arrests After Football Match Violence in Morocco
In a troubling incident following a local football match, Moroccan authorities have taken into custody 136 individuals, including minors, due to violent clashes that erupted during the game between the Royal Army team and Raja Casablanca. This alarming situation unfolded in Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Thursday evening, part of the seventeenth round of the domestic league, as reported by a source from the public prosecutor’s office to AFP.
Violence erupted in the stands as fans from both teams confronted each other, with local media broadcasting videos depicting the chaos. Despite the unrest, the match proceeded, concluding with a victory for the Royal Army over their guests, Raja, with a score of 2-1. However, the violent outbursts led to the apprehension of 136 suspects who are now under investigation for their alleged involvement in the disturbances.
The resurgence of violence within Moroccan football has sparked significant concern within local media, with some outlets warning of incitements to violence circulating on social media platforms prior to the match. While the infrastructure and training for players and national teams have seen improvements, football in Morocco continues to grapple with the issue of fan violence, which has been recurring in recent years.
Notably, clashes between rival fan groups, known as Ultras, have sometimes occurred even outside stadiums, indicating a deeper-rooted problem. Following this match, the Royal Army team currently sits in second place in the league standings, just two points ahead of Raja Casablanca, who are in third, while trailing the leaders, FUS Rabat, by the same margin with 13 matches remaining in the season.
As reported by alarabiya.net.
