Derksen blasts Amsterdam police: 'Took photos, failed to act'

The Oranje studio lights dimmed as Johan Derksen turned his gaze toward Amsterdam’s streets. Around him, the usual post-match buzz had curdled into frustration. The Amsterdam police had stood by, cameras in hand, as celebrations following Morocco’s victory over Canada spiraled into alleged destruction. For Derksen, the image was damning: officers posed with flags, capturing moments rather than restoring order.

In Oranje, Derksen launched a sharp critique of the police response. "I am so tired of the fact that when Moroccan youth misbehave, it is framed as a societal problem," he began. "When other countries are eliminated, nothing happens. But when Morocco wins or loses, all hell breaks loose."

He reserved his harshest words for the Amsterdam force. "I’ve completely lost it with the Amsterdam police. They took photos, stood with flags, and did not intervene. I think the citizens of Amsterdam understand none of this."

Derksen painted a vivid scene of the aftermath. "The place was wrecked, and the officers were laughing. That might be a new tactic, but then we’ve lost control entirely."

He drew a stark line between societal and national narratives. "It’s too easily said that this isn’t a Moroccan problem but a societal one. Yet all the evidence from other countries shows otherwise. It is a Moroccan problem," Derksen concluded.

The remarks came as part of a broader discussion in the studio, where Neymar, Arne Slot, and Cape Verde’s fairy tale were also on the agenda.

For Derksen, the episode underscored a deeper frustration: the selective outrage that follows Moroccan success or failure on the global stage.