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[SPORTS] · Netherlands, Morocco · 100 sources

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Morocco beats Netherlands on penalties, sparking Koeman resignation and abuse investigations

Morocco defeated the Netherlands 3‑2 in a penalty shoot‑out after the round‑of‑32 match in Monterrey ended 1‑1 after extra time, sending the African side into the World Cup round of 16 where it will meet Canada.

Dutch forwards Cody Gakpo (who scored the opening goal) and his teammates were later subjected to racist and hateful comments online. The Dutch FA (KNVB) said the abuse was “appalling” and filed a report with the national anti‑discrimination platform, which could lead to a criminal investigation.

Following the loss, head coach Ronald Koeman announced his resignation on Instagram, citing disappointment with the result and personal family matters, including his wife’s cancer diagnosis. He thanked those he worked with over his long career and said the decision was “painful”.

The incident also highlighted the emotional story of Gakpo, who played despite the recent loss of an unborn child and was embraced by teammates after scoring.

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