Police detained one man suspected to have incited the incident, which started on Jl. Ponegoro, Urimessing subdistrict in Ambon, Maluku.

Clashes broke out between opposing groups of fans when one group of youths carrying large Spanish flags ran into a group of  Dutch supporters.

“Clashes then erupted when the opposing groups mocked each other. Eventually they started throwing rocks and damaged a number of shops on Jl. Urimessing,” Ambon City Police operations chief Comr. Mansura Manurung told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Police were able to quash the riot after firing several warning shots in the air, which dispersed the groups, Manurung said.

The situation was under control but the police are still posted at several points to prevent a repeat of the incident, he added.

Manurung said the police had deployed officers to 17 hot spots in Ambon city before the World Cup final.
The police also barricaded entrances at Tantui, Passo and Benteng to preempt any violent convoys from entering the city, he added.

The Netherlands were impressive and knocked out a favored Brazilian team en route to the final match with Spain at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Thousands in Ambon watched the match and were eager to see Dutch team win and enjoy the celebrations that would follow.

But their hopes did not materialize when the Dutch lost 1-0.

“My friends and I planned to hold a parade if the Dutch won, but our idols lost the match. I’d rather go home and sleep,” said Wiliam Manuputty, who was wearing a Dutch soccer jersey.

Ambonese are known as fanatic supporters of the Dutch soccer team and many believe some players have ancestors from Maluku.

Five players — Giovanni van Bronckhorst (captain), Johnny Heitinga, Nigel de Jong, Demy de Zeeuw and Gregory van der Wiel — are alleged to have ancestors from Maluku.

Reports say both of van Bronckhorst’s parents are of Maluku descent. Van Bronckhorst’s great-grandmother was of the Manuhutu kinship from Haria village on Saparua Island and his great-grandfather was Dutch.

Van Bronckhorst’s mother, Fransein Sapulette, is of native Maluku descent. His maternal great-grandmother was of the Sapulette kinship from Siri-Sori village on Saparua Island.

“From the lineage, it’s not too much to say that Maluku residents are very proud of Giovanni and  other players of Maluku descent on the Dutch national team,” Heygel Tengens, an official of the Indonesian Football Association’s (PSSI) Maluku chapter, said.

Heygel said it was fortunate that the Netherlands did not win the World Cup, otherwise the police might have had a harder time in curbing local euphoria.

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