Lively debate around the France-Israel match scheduled for November: between calls for the cancellation of a deputy and the desire to maintain the government, the meeting is already sparking before it even takes place. But in the end, will the match take place? Response in a few weeks…
At the heart of the burning news of the moment, the holding of the France-Israel football match, scheduled for November 14 at the Stade de France, crystallizes tensions and raises a wave of controversies. While some are calling for its cancellation purely and simply, the government would rather lean towards maintaining it under close surveillance. Diving into the heart of an explosive case.
A rebellious MP steps up to the plate
It's a real stone in the pond that has been thrown Louis Boyarddeputy of La France Insoumise, demanding neither more nor less than pure and simple cancellation of the meeting. Invited this Friday morning on Sud Radio, the elected official could not have been clearer:
I don't want this match to happen.
Louis Boyard, LFI deputy
To support his request, Louis Boyard relayed a petition demanding the cancellation of this France-Israel counting for the League of Nations. His main argument? “Article 4 of the FIFA statutes which explains that universal human rights must be respected”he hammered into the microphone.
The specter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
It is indeed impossible to ignore the particularly tense geopolitical context surrounding the holding of this match. As Louis Boyard points out, the war which ravages the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 has spread to Lebanonwhere the Israeli army is carrying out massive airstrikes against the Islamist movement of Hezbollah since the end of September.
A climate of violence which, for MP Insoumis, makes it inconceivable to welcome the Israeli selection to France in such a context. Especially since the very statutes of FIFA provide for respect for human rights, an argument used by Louis Boyard to justify his request for cancellation.
The government is considering a reduced tonnage
On the executive side, however, there is no question of simply canceling the meeting. Questioned on this subject on BFMTV-RMC, the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau confirmed that “the match will be held in Saint-Denis”while admitting that the security system would be adapted to the context.
Among the options on the table, that of a reduced gauge to limit the risks: “This is a point that we are currently studying”thus slipped the tenant of Place Beauvau. While brushing aside the hypothesis of moving the meeting to a smaller venue like the Parc des Princes.
What I wanted is that we not move (the meeting), for example to the Parc des Princes in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, which has 48,000 places.
Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior
A question of principle for the government
Beyond the security aspects, the holding of this France-Israel also has a symbolic dimension in the eyes of the government. Bruno Retailleau has also hammered it home, he makes it a “question of principle” that this match takes place despite the climate of tension.
A firm position from the executive, which contrasts with the calls for pure and simple cancellation launched in particular by Louis Boyard. But MP Insoumis is far from being the only one to be moved by the holding of this meeting in such a context.
A petition that is growing
It is an understatement to say that the prospect of this France-Israel does not go down well with part of the public. The petition relayed by Louis Boyard, launched a few days ago on social networks, has already collected several tens of thousands of signatures. Proof that the subject is far from leaving the French indifferent.
Among the signatories, we find a mix of anonymous people, but also personalities from the associative, cultural or political world. Everyone agrees that maintaining this match in the current context would be at best “a lack of discernment”at worst “a provocation” taking into account the situation in Palestine and Lebanon.
The difficult balance of authorities
Faced with this outcry, the government finds itself in a delicate position, to say the least. On the one hand, it is difficult to ignore the security imperatives and the climate of tension which surrounds the holding of this match. But on the other hand, canceling the meeting altogether would amount to giving in to pressure, a dangerous precedent for the executive.
It is this difficult balance that Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is trying to find, by maintaining the match while considering adaptations such as a reduced gauge. A in-between which does not convince the most determined opponents of this meeting, but which at least has the merit of existing.
What future for this France-Israel?
With just over a month to go until this high-voltage match kicks off, one question remains: will it finally take place? If the government seems determined to maintain the meeting as planned for November 14 at all costs, the popular and media pressure has not abated.
Calls to demonstrate on D-Day are increasing on social networks, with some not hesitating to threaten to disrupt the smooth running of the meeting. An activism which worries in high places, hence the option of a reduced gauge actively studied by the Ministry of the Interior.
One thing is certain: this France-Israel has already entered another dimension, far from only sporting considerations. To the point of crystallizing all the tensions of the moment and becoming a real political issue. It now remains to be seen who, the government or the opponents of holding the match, will end up winning in this standoff which is only just beginning. Response in a month…
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