Morocco police arrest over 80 football fans after reported violence

Moroccan police have arrested more than 80 football fans after violence broke out following championship matches in Casablanca and Oujda, local media reported on Thursday.

In Casablanca, police arrested 45 people on Wednesday night, including 31 minors, suspected of committing "acts of violence" and "causing material damage to public property," according to police sources quoted by Moroccan media.

The alleged incidents took place during and after a match between Raja of Casablanca and the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) team, they said, adding that four police officers were injured by stone-throwing and two cars were damaged.

In the western city of Oujda, 39 supporters were arrested on Wednesday night for alleged acts of "violence", "theft" or "possession of bladed weapons" on the sidelines of the match between Mouloudia of Oujda and Wydad of Casablanca, media reports said.

The alleged clashes saw 69 police officers lightly injured and a guard hospitalised.

It comes after March football violence in Rabat and Agadir that led to eight fans receiving prison terms ranging from four months to one year.

Moroccan football has seen several such incidents of violence in recent years, often involving ultras supporting Casablanca's two main teams, Wydad and Raja.

After two supporters died in early 2016, authorities had dissolved the ultras groups and banned their slogans and symbols in stadiums.

Those rules were relaxed in 2018.