League of Nations: France-Israel maintained at the Stade de France with the public

The France-Israel meeting, counting for the 5th day of the League of Nations, will be played at the Stade de France, on Thursday, November 14.

While a closed session was being considered, the match will finally be open to the public, the Paris police headquarters announced on Tuesday, October 15.

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Middle East: fear of widespread conflict

The doubt is lifted: France-Israel will take place at the Stade de France, “under usual conditions”. While a closed session, or even a relocation to the Parc des Princes or to the provinces, were solutions considered, due to current events in the Middle East, the French authorities finally decided to keep the match as it was. most sensitive of the year. A meeting classified as very high risk for fear of possible disturbances to public order.

“The prefect of police, Laurent Nuñez, confirms that the international match between the teams of France and Israel will be played on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at the Stade de France under the usual conditions of a League of Nations meeting and will be well obviously open to the public”announced Tuesday, October 15, in a press release (new window) the Paris police headquarters, confirming the strong trend that has emerged in recent days. “The organization of this match will be extremely sensitive”admitted however, the day before, Laurent Nuñez interviewed on the franceinfo microphone (new window).

The FFF wanted to play normally

The question of relocation arose, like what Belgium did on September 6. Faced with the fear of a conflagration of the already explosive social climate, in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Belgian authorities were opposed to welcoming the Israeli national team. The match, initially scheduled at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, was relocated to the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary. A forced exile for the “Red Devils”, more than 1,300 kilometers from the capital of the “Flat Country”.

A possibility that the French Football Federation (FFF) quickly ruled out, motivated in particular by the fact that it still owes, contractually, a match at the Stade de France in 2024. With regard to a closed session, studied in order to minimize possible risks, the tricolor body has always said it is unfavorable. From the start, it has maintained its wish to welcome spectators normally to fill the Jardin des Bleus and its 80,000 seats.