Why Thursday’s France-Israel match promises to be particularly tense

Usually, a Football match is preceded by the announcement of the team compositions. This time, it is through that of the police system. This Thursday, November 14, while Gaza continues to suffer Israeli strikes, the French team must face the Israeli selection in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis).

A match identified for a long time by the authorities as particularly “at risk”. And even more so since the outbreak of violence which shook Amsterdam last Thursday on the sidelines of a meeting between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv. “There will be a system around the stadium which will be extremely substantial”announced the Paris police prefect, Laurent Nuñez.

In total, 4,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized, “compared to 1,200-1,300 for French team matches when we are in a sold-out stadium”. Furthermore, nearly 1,600 security agents will be mobilized around the compound. And the Raid, an elite unit of the national police, will be responsible for the security of the visiting team in cooperation with the Israeli authorities.

For spectators, the constraints will be numerous, with largely reinforced controls: “There will be a security system around the stadium with double control: at the entrance to the protection perimeter which is manned by the police and at the entrance to the stadium. With, each time, a concordance check (and) systematically, search and palpation”explains the prefect.

Recommendation not to attend the match

The possibility of imposing a limitation on the number of spectators was, however, ruled out given the low popular enthusiasm for the game. To date, the French Football Federation (FFF) has only sold just over 20,000 places out of the 80,000 available. An extremely rare crowd, including for a Nations League match.

Few Israeli supporters are expected to be present, as the Israeli authorities have recommended that their nationals not go to the match. “Groups that want to attack Israelis have been identified in a number of European cities”communicated the Israeli National Security Council.

Among the spectators of the match, one of them is particularly well-known. The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, announced this Sunday that he will be present in the Dionysian spans. “At this stage”the Head of State does not plan to be accompanied by any special guests, Palestinian or Israeli, the Élysée communicated to Humanity. Michel Barnier will also attend this match, as will Nicolas Sarkozy.

“It is up to the Israeli authorities to communicate whether they have a delegation”kick touches the presidency. According to her, the only will of the president is “to show its full support for the French team”but also “to send a message of fraternity and solidarity after the intolerable anti-Semitic acts which followed the match in Amsterdam this week”.

Violence taken over by the far right

A reference to the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, which gave rise to violent clashes the day before and the day of the match between the ultra groups of the two clubs, who had until now maintained disagreements. bonds of friendship. In total, 62 people were arrested.

While the city’s mayor, Femke Haselma, denounced a “explosion of anti-Semitism” Who “hadn’t been seen for a long time”describing that Israeli supporters were chased and beaten in the streets of the city, police authorities for their part reported a more complex picture with “incidents on both sides”.

“Maccabi supporters removed a (Palestinian – Editor’s note) flag from a facade and destroyed a taxi. A Palestinian flag was set on fire at a roadblock »explained Peter Holla, local police chief. On social networks, images of racist chants from Maccabi supporters have since circulated.

They show them chanting “Let the IDF win to finish off the Arabs!” » or even “There are no more schools in Gaza because there are no more children”. These ultras, known for their proximity to the Israeli extreme right, had already sadly distinguished themselves in March 2024 during the attack on a man of Arab origin in Athens, on the sidelines of a match between Maccabi and the ‘Olympiakos.

However, despite these elements, the French media and political treatment was based solely on the description of the facts by the Israeli authorities, deliberately obscuring part of the events. Israeli President Isaac Herzog denounced on “anti-Semitic pogrom”while the Israeli embassy in the United States deplored “horrible clashes recalling Europe’s darkest history”.

Emmanuel Macron followed suit “firmly condemned” THE “violence against Israeli citizens in Amsterdam”which according to him recall “the most shameful hours in history”. “I send my support to the injured. France will continue to fight relentlessly against odious anti-Semitism”he insisted.

For their part, the far right and part of the right very quickly wanted to take advantage of this violence to demonize any criticism of the Israeli government. “May the irresponsible people who, also in France, including in the political class, stir up anti-Semitic hatred under the guise of defending the Palestinians dare to face the consequences of their words”declared Jordan Bardella, president of the RN.

If voices have been raised on the left and right to denounce all forms of anti-Semitic violence, on the rise in our country, the scandalous comments of certain Maccabi supporters have for their part often been silenced, and those who report them have sometimes been accused to be anti-Semitic. If the hate speech heard in Amsterdam cannot justify any manhunt, it should not be ignored.

The imperative need to combat anti-Semitism requires us not to put blinders on the massacres perpetrated in Gaza and the celebrations of those who rejoice in them. The values ​​of sport also require us to combat all racism, to denounce all crimes, to not dehumanize anyone, to tolerate no insults or violence, and to work for peace.