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.



Neymar Suspects Latest Injury Nothing More Serious than Cramp

Football - Asian Champions League - Group B - Al-Ain v Al-Hilal - Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates - October 21, 2024 Al-Hilal's Neymar during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Asian Champions League - Group B - Al-Ain v Al-Hilal - Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates - October 21, 2024 Al-Hilal's Neymar during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
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Neymar Suspects Latest Injury Nothing More Serious than Cramp

Football - Asian Champions League - Group B - Al-Ain v Al-Hilal - Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates - October 21, 2024 Al-Hilal's Neymar during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Asian Champions League - Group B - Al-Ain v Al-Hilal - Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates - October 21, 2024 Al-Hilal's Neymar during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)

Neymar was not too downcast after being forced to leave Monday's Asian Champions League Elite match due to injury with the Al-Hilal forward saying he felt the issue was nothing more than a strong cramp.

The Brazilian, who limped off 30 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute in Al-Hilal's 3-0 win over Esteghlal, said doctors had warned him about the potential for muscle issues following his return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The 32-year-old returned to action two weeks ago, having been out since Brazil's CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October last year when he suffered the injury.

"It felt like a cramp, only very strong!" Neymar posted on Instagram. "I'm going to have some tests and I hope it's nothing too serious.

"It's normal for this to happen after a year, the doctors had already warned me, so I have to be careful and play more minutes."

Neymar has played only seven games for Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal since moving from Paris St Germain in August last year.