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London Cop Hospitalised, Four Arrested Following Post-Match World Cup Clashes on Edgware Road


 A Metropolitan Police officer was hospitalised with head injuries and four individuals were taken into custody after a pocket of violent disorder erupted in central London late Thursday night, following Morocco's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The disturbances broke out shortly after France defeated Morocco 2-0 in their highly anticipated quarter-final clash in Foxborough, Massachusetts. While Paris witnessed largely peaceful celebrations, central London became a flashpoint for disappointed supporters.

Escalation on Edgware Road

According to a spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police, authorities were initially called to Edgware Road, near Hyde Park, where a large crowd of football fans had congregated and brought local traffic to a standstill.

The gathering quickly turned volatile. Riot police clad in shields and protective body armour were deployed as individuals within the crowd began launching glass bottles, debris, and green fireworks at responding units.

Officer Injured and Arrests Made

During the confrontation, one officer sustained serious head injuries after reportedly being struck by a flying glass bottle. The officer was immediately evacuated from the scene and transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment. No other injuries to police personnel or the public were reported.

Scotland Yard confirmed that four people have been arrested so far on charges of violent disorder.
"We will not tolerate such disorder on our streets, or attacks on our officers," the Metropolitan Police said in an official statement. "We will be reviewing CCTV and video footage circulating on social media to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice."

Wider Unrest Across Europe

The road was successfully cleared and re-opened to traffic by approximately 01:00 BST on Friday morning.

London was not alone in facing football-related unrest. While French authorities managed to maintain a quiet night in Paris by deploying roughly 20,000 officers nationwide, local media reported similar outbreaks of rioting and fan clashes in parts of Belgium and the Netherlands, resulting in several additional arrests in Antwerp and The Hague.


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