International

4,000 Police Deployed For France-Israel Match In Paris Amid Security Concerns

Published

2 hours ago

Nov 14, 2024.

Dennis

Thousands of police officers are being deployed in Paris to secure Thursday’s France-Israel football match, following last week’s violence in Amsterdam where Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were attacked.

Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez announced that 4,000 officers will be on duty, with 2,500 stationed at the Stade de France in the northern suburbs and additional officers monitoring public transport and key areas within the city.

In addition, around 1,600 private security personnel will be on hand at the stadium, while an elite anti-terrorist police unit will provide protection for the visiting Israeli team.

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“It is a high-risk match [because of] an extremely tense geopolitical context,” Mr Nuñez said.

“We will not allow any attempt to disturb public order.”

The upcoming UEFA Nations League match is under heightened scrutiny following last Thursday’s violence after the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv game in the Netherlands.

The Stade de France, with a capacity of 80,000, will be filled to only a quarter of its capacity. Based on advice from the Israeli government, no more than 100 Israeli fans are expected to travel to Paris, though additional supporters of Israel may attend the match.

Politicians across Europe condemned what they described as a “resurgence of antisemitism” after Israeli fans were chased through Amsterdam streets. According to city officials, some Maccabi fans had been involved in incidents such as tearing down a Palestinian flag, vandalizing a taxi, and chanting anti-Arab slogans. These fans were then pursued by “small groups of rioters… on foot, by scooter, or by car,” according to an Amsterdam city report.

Tensions related to Middle Eastern conflicts have the potential to spill over into Europe, particularly in countries like France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, where large Muslim communities of North African descent live alongside smaller Jewish communities, many of whom strongly identify with Israel.

To express solidarity with European Jews following the Amsterdam incidents, President Emmanuel Macron will attend Thursday’s match, scheduled to start at 20:45 (19:45 GMT). He will be joined by Prime Minister Michel Barnier and former presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.

Fans have been advised to expect identity checks, and nearby bars and restaurants have been instructed to close early.

The Stade de France, which faced a major security breach during the 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, has since hosted the Rugby World Cup and Paris Olympics events without incident.

France’s far-left Unbowed France (LFI) party, which has expressed support for Palestinians and Lebanese groups in conflicts with Israel, has called for the match to be cancelled or, at a minimum, for President Macron to abstain from attending.

“We do not want our head of state honouring a country that commits genocide,” said LFI deputy David Guiraud. Israel has denied allegations of genocide as baseless and grossly distorted.

But Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said it was out of the question to cancel or relocate the match. “France does not give way to those who sow hatred,” he said.