Four days before the League of Nations meeting between France and Israel, the geopolitical context interferes in sport and, after the violence that occurred in Amsterdamraises questions about the safety of Israeli fans. So much so that the Hebrew state recommends to its citizens not to go to the Stade de France on Thursday.
For its part, the French government wants to be reassuring and announces that the President of the Republic himself will be present at the match to send “a message of fraternity and solidarity”.
Israel recommends that its citizens not go to the match
After the violence targeting Israeli supporters in Amsterdam on Thursday evening, on the sidelines of the match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, the Israeli authorities called on their citizens this Sunday to avoid going to the Stade de France THURSDAY.
“The National Security Council recommends that Israelis abroad take precautions (…) particularly during the coming week, to completely avoid going to sporting events and cultural events attended by Israelis , especially at the next match of the Israel team in Paris”indicated in a press release this organization which depends on the Prime Minister’s office.
“Groups that want to attack Israelis have been identified in a number of European cities”specified the National Security Council, citing Brussels, major British cities, Amsterdam and Paris.
Emmanuel Macron will be present in the stands
In France, the government is firm and wants to be reassuring. Asked about maintaining the match at the Stade de France, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau indicated on Friday that “France is not backing down because that would amount to abdicating in the face of threats of violence and anti-Semitism“.
As proof, Emmanuel Macron himself will attend the Football matchFranceinfo learned from the entourage of the Head of State this Sunday. The French president thus intends to send “a message of fraternity and solidarity after the intolerable anti-Semitic acts which followed the match in Amsterdam“.
An “extremely reinforced” security system
For this match qualified as “high risk“by the Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez, a security system”extremely reinforced” et “very unusual” for an international meeting will be set up.
A total of 4,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized. They will be deployed around and, rarely, in the stadium, as well as on public transport and throughout Paris. Around 1,600 security agents will also be mobilized at the Stade de France and the Raid, the elite unit of the national police, will be engaged for the security of the Israel team, detailed Laurent Nuñez on BFMTV.
“We will not tolerate any excesses or disturbances to public order”declared the police chief, adding that controls to enter the stadium would be “extremely reinforced“but that the police did not have”requested that there be a limited tonnage” in the stadium for this League of Nations meeting.
“Around 20,000” tickets sold
For now, the number of tickets sold is in any case very far from the maximum gauge from the Stade de France. The French Football Federation (FFF) estimated the number of tickets sold for the match at “around 20,000”very far from the approximately 80,000 seats available at the Stade de France. The ticket office is still open.
A pro-Israeli rally the day before the match
The French authorities will also be on alert the day before the match. Wednesday evening, a rally will be organized in Paris by an international right-wing Jewish movement to fight anti-Semitismhe announced on Sunday. This movement, Betar, which has numerous branches around the world and which counts radical members in its ranks, plans to come together alongside the French Jewish Student Movement (MEJF). The location of the demonstration is still unknown.
This gathering will take place on the same day as the “Israel forever” gala, an event in support of Israel organized by several far-right figureswho is due to welcome Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to Paris this year. Associations, unions and French left-wing parties denounced the organization of this gala, particularly criticizing the announced presence of Bezalel Smotrich, far-right minister.
