Sun 11 December 2022:
French police used tear gas on the Shans eleezay in Paris, as fans celebrated France and Morocco’s World Cup victories, which advanced them to the tournament’s semi-finals.
Thousands of supporters had gathered on the famous Parisian avenue, shortly after the match between Morocco and Portugal, chanting, waving flags, and honking horns in the face of heavy police presence.
Although the mood was originally celebratory, clashes between fans and police soon turned violent, with officers spraying tear gas into the crowd -and arresting at least 74 people.
Tensions were running high in the French capital. Police officers, who can be seen carrying shields, were dealing with the crowds.
Several motorcycles were pictured on fire, and flames could also be seen on avenue de Friedland, close to the Shans eleezay.
As clashes turned increasingly heated, videos on social media appeared to show some fans being kicked and hit with batons by police.
More than 1,000 police had been deployed in the capital, ahead of the matches last night, in anticipation of potential violence.
Morocco’s Atlas Lions have once again made history at the ongoing tournament, after beating pre-match favorites = and football heavy-weights Portugal on Saturday.
The North African team became the first Arab and African nation, to reach the tournament’s semi-final, an achievement, that has been widely celebrated across Africa and the Arab world.
Morocco’s national football team is set to lock horns with France, at the Qatar World Cup’s semi-finals, after the European country defeated England in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
The pair will play against each other on December 14, at 8:00 pm, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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