Played at the Stade de France in a heavy security context, the meeting between the France team and Israel, this Thursday evening, was marked by whistles during the Israeli anthem, then some scuffles in the stands.
Very special atmosphere this Thursday evening at the Stade de France. It is in a tense and heavy context that Didier Deschamps' Blues host Israel in the League of Nations. In total, 4,000 police officers and gendarmes are mobilized around, and rare, within the walls of Saint-Denis, as well as on public transport and in Paris to ensure security around this meeting.
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Whistles during the Israeli anthem
When the Israeli line-up was announced, then when the Israeli anthem sounded before kick-off, a few whistles came down from the stands. The stadium sound was turned up during this sequence.
A few minutes later, at the start of the match, fights broke out in the north turn above the Irrésistibles, the Blues supporters group. Around fifty people were involved. Stewards intervened to try to restore calm and form a cordon. The CRS showed themselves ready to intervene.
Scuffles at the start of the match
This happened in the stand where Israeli supporters are gathered (part L, K and J of the Stade de France). Some of them ran towards the left part of this stand where people without flags or distinctive jerseys are located. A few fights took place. This lasted about two minutes.
Israeli fans in that part of the stadium then chanted: “Free the hostages, free the hostages!” CRS took their place next to the stewards to further secure the separation of this stand into two. Calm returned after a few tense minutes.
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