Morocco knocked the Netherlands out of the World Cup in a penalty shootout, triggering wild celebrations in Amsterdam and violent clashes in The Hague, according to The Guardian.
Approximately 440,000 people of Moroccan descent living in the Netherlands faced intense scrutiny over their dual allegiance ahead of the high-stakes match.
Former football manager Ron Jans publicly raised the dilemma on Dutch national television while discussing the fixture with pundit Ibrahim Afellay, who earned 53 caps for the Netherlands.
"So who will you support, then?" Jans asked Afellay, who explicitly backed Morocco.
Afellay's choice reflects a growing trend among Dutch-born players of Moroccan heritage who choose to represent their ancestral nation due to rising right-wing populism.
Political friction was heightened online by far-right politician Geert Wilders, who posted anti-Islam remarks and an AI-generated image targeting Moroccan players before the match.
After the match, Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported that soccer fans pelted police with fireworks and bottles in The Hague, leading to at least 10 arrests.
Algemeen Dagblad reported four arrests in Rotterdam, while celebrations in Amsterdam remained peaceful as fans showed mutual camaraderie.
