Considered high risk by the authorities, the Nations League match between France and Israel, Thursday November 14 at the Stade de France, will be played in a very specific security context. The system, already very substantial, could be further strengthened.
Thursday evening, the most sensitive match of the year will take place at the Stade de France. The League of Nations meeting between France and Israel is considered, unsurprisingly, very (very) high risk by the specialized intelligence services. But after the events of Thursday evening in the Netherlands, the security system around this meeting could be revised upwards.
For the moment, people close to the case confide that the initial system “is totally adapted” to the situation, even if several of them admit that the events in Amsterdam should change the situation. The first device set up by the Paris Police Prefect, Laurent Nunez, is already impressive. As revealed by RMC Sport on Friday morning, 2,500 members of the police will be deployed around the Stade de France. By adding mobile forces and patrols in the streets of the capital, the system should exceed the 3,500 police officers and gendarmes mobilized around this meeting. Several security meetings will take place until the day of the match and decisions will be made to allow this meeting to take place. “It will evolve,” confided a source close to the matter this Friday.
Around 20,000 tickets sold
The events in Amsterdam took place in the middle of the city, which pushes all stakeholders to scrutinize the system in certain points of the capital but also in the public transport which will be used by spectators and by people returning from work on a Thursday evening. What is already certain among several police sources is that the “natural gauge” has occurred. Clearly, given the security context, potential spectators preferred not to buy tickets. To date, around 20,000 tickets have been sold.
The services of the Ministry of the Interior are also examining the threats surrounding this meeting or the actions that may be taken in the coming days in order to use this meeting to send messages. On the evening of the match, the French and Israeli flags will be the only ones allowed inside the Stade de France.
The other sensitive point will be security around the Israeli team upon its arrival on French territory. It will be supported by elite units for permanent protection. This selection is used to living with armed and helmeted men, as was already the case in Hungary. His hotel will be sealed off during the Israeli team's stay on French territory.
French law enforcement maintains the experience of the Olympic Games, in particular with the support of the Israeli football delegation. Players who will be permanently accompanied by men from the Israeli security services. This is the case during all the selection's trips, all over the world. But with the events in Amsterdam, this Israeli system could also be strengthened.
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