The police arrested 72 people in Rotterdam on Wednesday evening after Feyenoord’s lost match against AS Roma (1-0). It was restless in several places in the city. The mobile unit (ME) had to carry out charges and water throwers were also deployed on the Coolsingel to clear the street. At around 1 am, peace returned to the city.
Riots arose in various places in the city after Feyenoord’s loss to AS Roma in the Conference League. According to a police spokesperson, there were several incidents and fights in the city. Officers were pelted with rocks and bottles during the disturbances. Two officers suffered minor injuries when they were struck by glass and a stone.
The rioters caused “heavy destruction”, the spokesman said. A tram and a bus were also damaged. Especially in the center were many heavy firecrackers heard.
Police are not ruling out further arrests and are calling on bystanders to share CCTV footage so that more rioters can be identified.
Running horses towards Coolsingel
There was a lot of police in Rotterdam around the final. Also prior to the match, there were loud bangs of heavy fireworks on Stadhuisplein and Lijnbaan, among others. In addition, supporters set off smoke bombs and flares. The police did not have to intervene then.
During the match it was quiet in the city, although Rotterdam was certainly not extinct. The peace gave some agents the opportunity to see part of the final as well.
After the final whistle in Tirana, the first supporters left disappointed from the squares with large screens. It wasn’t grim at the time. When the Feyenoord events in Rotterdam closed half an hour after the lost final, it became restless in the city.