France is preparing to host the Israel team this Thursday evening at the Stade de France, a high-risk match given the context. An important security system will be put in place for this meeting. 4,000 members of the police will be mobilized Thursday evening around and inside the Saint-Denis enclosure, confirmed Paris Police Prefect Laurent Nunes. The FFF absolutely wanted to organize this meeting at the Stade de France as planned.
The match could have been relocated due to the context. Despite the violence in Amsterdam last Thursday, the banner of support for Palestine during a PSG match at the Parc des Princes or the presence last Monday in the premises of the French Football Federation of demonstrators from the Stop Genocide association, there was no question of changing location as indicated by the Ministry of the Interior. An opinion shared by French football officials.
The President of the FFF absolutely wants this match to take place at the Stade de France
Last Thursday, when announcing the list of players selected for this match, Didier Deschamps returned the ball to the president of the French football federation: “I don't know if it was the best solution (to play Stade de France) It's not my responsibility, you can ask my President the question” explained the coach.
Philippe Diallo responded this weekend. In an interview with the newspaper West Francethe head of the federation affirms “having always supported the idea of playing at the Stade de France, with the public, because it is a football match and it must remain so…”
“This match must take place imperatively, humanely, respectfully”
The president of the federation assures “never studied another option”. A decision welcomed by Jacques Vendroux. “The Stade de France is the home of the blues, where the French have been world champions and where major sporting events (like the Olympics) have taken place. There is no reason to change location and Philippe Diallo is right to have wanted this match to be maintained in Saint-Denis. This match must take place imperatively, humanely, respectfully towards Israel at the Stade de France”, he assures. microphone from Europe 1.
Emmanuel Macron will attend the meeting
A month ago, the French players managed to ignore the very particular context during the match against Israel in Hungary. In a small stadium in Budapest with a very significant police presence, the Blues won 4 goals to 1. Thursday evening, 20,000 supporters should fill the Stade de France for an enclosure which can accommodate up to 80,000. But the FFF has decided not to put all of the available places on sale, particularly for security reasons. The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron decided to attend this meeting to support the Blues and send a message of fraternity and solidarity.
