We “must not back down”, believes Gil Avérous about maintaining the France-Israel match at the Stade de France on November 14.
Published on 09/11/2024 14:11
Updated on 09/11/2024 14:22
Reading time: 2min
Like the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, that of Sports, Gil Avérous estimates, Saturday November 9, on franceinfo that he “Above all, we must not back down.” He supports the decision to maintain the France-Israel football match, scheduled for November 14 at the Stade de France, for the 5th day of the Nations League. “The worst thing would be to agree with those who want to impress or intimidate,” justifies the Minister of Sports.
Gil Avérous wants to be reassuring. “We are used in France to hosting major events, exhibitions” recalling that security was one of the challenges of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. “We managed to live through them without any problem”he emphasizes.
The Minister of Sports also recalls that “the means will be put in place” for the France-Israel meeting. 4,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized on Thursday: 2,500 around the Stade de France, 1,500 in Paris. “The Ministry of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, is working with the police prefect so that everything happens in the best security conditions and that everyone can go to the stadium with peace of mind”insists Gil Avérous on franceinfo.
But this meeting is far from full. Only 20,000 tickets were sold at the last count dating back to Friday, Radio France Sports management learned from several sources close to the matter. The Minister of Sports is not surprised after the violence committed in Amsterdam against Israeli supporters on the sidelines of a Europa League football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv. “Obviously, when you see what is happening abroad, it makes you think,” he reacts. But Gil Avérous has “I hope that the figures improve and that people realize that we must not go backwards, we must not give up.” and that he “must go” see this France-Israel match.
