Police officers everywhere, gendarmes too, the BRI, dogs, horses, a helicopter spinning… it's a bit of the entire French security arsenal which is around and in the Stade de France for this France – Israel match while we are expecting the lowest attendance the venue has ever known (less than 20,000 spectators).
The first rows of seats have been closed off, grilles have been installed to clearly mark the separation between the pitch and the stands. Stands of which the entire upper crown has been condemned. We expect less than 20,000 spectators in an enclosure which can hold 25,000. Ultimately, this match could just as easily have taken place in Valenciennes if there was not a contract between the Federation and the Stade de France.
uri
Spectators trickle in as the helicopter continues its patrol. You have to show your credentials and have your time. For the press, for example, 11 checks before reaching their place: 2 before entering the car into the stadium car park, before a complete search, car and driver, then two more checks before parking. New search of the bag when leaving the car park, check at the press gate, scan of the bag, check at the entrance to the stadium, check at the entrance to the press stand and check at the entrance to the press room. And still the helicopter spinning but the noise of the blades is finally covered by the stadium music which fails to excite a stunned crowd, almost lost in a stadium that is too big and without atmosphere.
France
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