While violence marred the Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, with Israeli supporters targeted, the organization of the Nations League match between France and Israel (Thursday November 14) is the center of all attention.
A burning situation, and new incidents fanning the embers. Thursday, November 7, Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters were attacked in Amsterdam after a Europa League match against Ajax. Israeli fans were beaten in the streets of the city, violence committed in the context of the war in Gaza. Some amateur videos feature people shouting “Free Palestine”. “That’s for the killed children!”, says an attacker.
>> Attacks on Israeli supporters in Amsterdam: all the news LIVE
In France, these incidents had a resounding echo as France is preparing to host the Nations League match between the Blues and Israel, Thursday November 14 at the Stade de France. “The violence against Israeli citizens in Amsterdam recalls the most shameful hours in history,” reacted Emmanuel Macron on X.
The hypothesis of relocation ruled out
After such images of violence, and while clashes had already broken out on the eve of the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv match, Israeli supporters having notably torn down Palestinian flags hanging from windows and attacked taxi drivers, the question of maintaining France-Israel at the Stade de France quickly arose. Manuel Bompard, coordinator of France Insoumise, for example called for the match to be canceled given the “unacceptable violations of international law” committed, according to him, by the Israeli army in the Middle East.
“Some are calling for the relocation of the France-Israel match. I do not accept it: France is not backing down because that would amount to abdicating in the face of threats of violence and in the face of anti-Semitism,” said Bruno Retailleau, Minister of Interior, on
Monday, November 4, before the violence in Amsterdam, around forty activists from the “Stop Genocide” collective occupied the premises of the French Football Federation (FFF) in Paris to demand the cancellation of the match. Evacuated without violence by the police, the collective was received the next day, Tuesday November 5, by the leaders of the FFF. “They told us that the French team, by contract, had the obligation to play at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis,” confided one of the delegates of the collective in the columns of Le Parisien. The latter, however, should be known that “Stop Genocide” did not intend to give up, suggesting that new non-violent actions could potentially intervene. “We told them courteously but firmly that our campaign was continuing.”
A device that promises to be extraordinary
Contrary to what Belgium did in this same League of Nations, with the relocation of its match against Israel to Debrecen (Hungary), France therefore intends to maintain this high-risk match at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis . Twenty-six companies of law enforcement are planned to secure this meeting. A security source admits to RMC, it is the most important event to secure since the Olympic Games.
Before the incidents in Amsterdam, 2,500 police officers and gendarmes had to be mobilized, a system which will normally evolve in view of what happened in the Netherlands. This figure does not include the BAC (Anti-Crime Brigade), local police officers and railway security agents. Laurent Nunez’s system also provides for certain mobile force units (CRS) in Paris and on the public transport route. At the stadium, the rows closest to the pitch will be sealed off by the organization to avoid invasion of the pitch and the underground car parks will be closed.
90 supporters from Israel
Vigilance will be all the more important as, at the last count, just under 90 Israel supporters are expected next Thursday at the Stade de France, a source close to the matter told RMC Sport. They will be constantly supervised throughout the day by the police. Security around this small group will be strong. This official trip of Israeli fans does not include all the other fans who may come from Paris or from all over France. Just under 20,000 tickets were sold for this Nations League match. Certain areas of the stadium are not available for sale to the general public.
Thursday November 7, the France-Israel match, counting for qualifications for Euro 2025 women’s basketball, took place without a hitch in Caen. No false note marred this meeting marked by a police presence and reinforced security conditions in front of and within the Normandy enclosure.
Felix Gabory (with Nicolas Pelletier)
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