160 Arrests, Scores of Police Injured in Moroccan Football Violence

File Photo: Soccer Football - Euro 2020 - Round of 16 - England v Germany - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - June 29, 2021 General view of the action Pool via REUTERS/Matthew Childs
File Photo: Soccer Football - Euro 2020 - Round of 16 - England v Germany - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - June 29, 2021 General view of the action Pool via REUTERS/Matthew Childs
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160 Arrests, Scores of Police Injured in Moroccan Football Violence

File Photo: Soccer Football - Euro 2020 - Round of 16 - England v Germany - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - June 29, 2021 General view of the action Pool via REUTERS/Matthew Childs
File Photo: Soccer Football - Euro 2020 - Round of 16 - England v Germany - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - June 29, 2021 General view of the action Pool via REUTERS/Matthew Childs

Around 160 people, some carrying knives and stones, were arrested at a Moroccan football match on Sunday in violence which left more than 100 police officers injured, officials said.

The supporters, which included 90 teenagers, "were arrested for their alleged involvement in acts of violence, for possession of knives, drunkenness, throwing stones, causing damage and setting fire to a vehicle," said the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) in a statement.

The violence erupted at the end of a Throne Cup game between AS FAR, the Moroccan Armed Forces club based in Rabat, and Maghreb de Fez (MAS), AFP said.

AS FAR were beaten 2-0 and their ultra fans invaded the pitch to face down rival supporters, according to local media.

Police were bombarded with projectiles as they intervened.

The DGSN reported 103 police injured while 57 supporters were also hurt.

"At this stage of the investigation, a lot of damage to the facilities at the Moulay-Abdallah stadium has been recorded. A motorcycle was set on fire and 33 police and private vehicles were also damaged," added the DGSN.

The Moroccan football federation will meet next week to discuss the violence and sanctions are expected.

Sunday's outbreak of trouble was the first since fans were allowed to return to sports grounds at the end of February after two years of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, Moroccan stadiums have been the scene of violence between supporters in recent years.

Fights frequently break out between fans of the country's two top Casablanca clubs, Wydad and Raja, including on the streets outside the stadiums.

After the death of two supporters in early 2016, the authorities disbanded groups of ultras and even banned slogans and banners on the terraces.

However, ultras were permitted to return to the grounds in March 2018.



Gauff Defeats Swiatek in Straight Sets to Reach Semifinals of WTA Finals in Riyadh

 US' Coco Gauff reacts after winning a point from Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 5, 2024. (AFP)
US' Coco Gauff reacts after winning a point from Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 5, 2024. (AFP)
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Gauff Defeats Swiatek in Straight Sets to Reach Semifinals of WTA Finals in Riyadh

 US' Coco Gauff reacts after winning a point from Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 5, 2024. (AFP)
US' Coco Gauff reacts after winning a point from Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 5, 2024. (AFP)

Coco Gauff earned her second career win over Iga Swiatek on Tuesday, winning 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the WTA Finals.

It was Gauff’s first victory over Swiatek since the 2023 Cincinnati Open. The result snapped Swiatek's six-match win streak at the finals.

The win moved Gauff to 2-0 in the Orange Group, while Swiatek fell to 1-1. Swiatek had rallied to beat Barbora Krejcikova in three sets on Sunday in her first match in two months.

Krejcikova, the Wimbledon champion, kept her chances of advancing alive with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Jessica Pegula.

The result eliminated Pegula, who lost in straight sets to Gauff in their opening match in Saudi Arabia.

Krejcikova was the last player to qualify for the year-ending tournament for the top eight players on tour. She became the lowest-ranked player to win a WTA Finals match since Magda Maleeva 22 years ago.