Laurent Nunez, Paris police chief, declared on Sunday November 10 that Palestinian flags would be banned within the Stade de France during the football match between France and Israel on Thursday November 14. Only French and Israeli flags, as well as messages of support for the teams, will be authorized.
This decision takes place in a tense context around the meeting, the political aspect having taken precedence, it is claimed, over the sporting issue. Violent incidents involving Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in Amsterdam have heightened concerns.
Read: Amsterdam: faced with accusations, the Moroccan community defends itself and calls for unity
To ensure security, a large force of 4,000 people, made up of police, gendarmes and mobile forces, will be deployed, particularly on public transport.
Laurent Nunez justified the ban on Palestinian flags by recalling that “there cannot be any message of a political nature in the stadiums, it is the law”, specifying that he was working “in close collaboration with the Israeli authorities” to secure this event.
Belgium
