Louis Boyard wants cancellation, Bruno Retailleau makes his outfit “a question of principle”

FOOTBALL – When geopolitical crises are exported to the field. The match on the fifth day of the League of Nations between France and Israel scheduled for November 14 is a new scene of tensions among the French political class over the war in Gaza. The Insoumis MP Louis Boyard again requested this Friday, November 1, the cancellation of the event which is to take place at the Stade de France. But the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau insists on its maintenance, and in fact “ a question of principle.”

“I don’t want this match to happen”declared on Sud Radio the deputy for Val-de-Marne, who is relaying a petition asking for the cancellation of this sporting event. While the war raging in the Gaza Strip has spread to Lebanon, where Israel has been carrying out massive airstrikes against Hezbollah since September 23, the Insoumis invoked “ Article 4 of the FIFA statutes which explains that universal human rights must be respected”.

Louis Boyard argued that the International Federation had “ sometimes applied to other countries » sanctions, citing Russia, Belarus or South Africa. “ But on the other hand, when it comes to the policy of the Israeli government, we do absolutely nothing”he denounced. It's necessary a term “with double standards”in particular on behalf of “42,000 dead” recorded in Gaza, he insisted.

Bruno Retailleau, interviewed on BFMTV-RMC, does not have the same opinion. The meeting will be held in Saint-Denis according to the minister, who also wishes “of course adapt the security system” He castigated LFI, which according to him seeks to “ import the conflicts of the Middle East into our neighborhoods and into France.”

The Belgium-Israel match relocated to Hungary

Police chief Laurent Nuñez had already promised two weeks ago “ an extremely reinforced security system which will be of a very high level”tant « outside and inside the stadium ». The gauge of 80,000 spectators could therefore be revised downwards. “This is a point that we are currently studying”admitted the boss of Beauvau. “ But what I wanted was for us not to move, for example to the Parc des Princes,” which has fewer places, he continued. “We are in France and we must be able to enforce public order”insisted the minister.

He does not want to find himself in the situation of Belgium which was not able to host the match scheduled for September. Arguing the impossibility of organizing “this very high risk match” due to tensions in the city, Brussels had declined to hold this part. It was finally played in Hungary.

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