After Amsterdam Violence, France-Israel Match in Paris Centered on Security and Politics, Not Soccer.
Despite the tensions, French officials were determined to attend the match as a demonstration of solidarity, with security measures heightened to prevent a repeat of the unrest seen in Amsterdam.
Tensions flared during a Nations League match between Israel and France at the Stade de France on Wednesday, overshadowed by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. As the game began, scuffles broke out near the section occupied by Israeli fans, with people seen running and punches thrown. Some French fans also booed the Israeli national anthem, while minor confrontations occurred inside the sparsely filled stadium.
In an effort to prevent violence similar to last week's incidents in Amsterdam involving Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, 4,000 French security personnel were stationed in and around the stadium and on public transportation.
Around 100 Israeli supporters defied a government warning against traveling for sports events, sitting in a corner of the 80,000-seat stadium, which was only about 20% full. The Israeli fans waved yellow balloons and chanted "Free the Hostages," referencing Israelis held in Gaza by Hamas militants.
As the Israeli anthem played, some boos and whistles were heard, prompting the loudspeakers to amplify the music. The tensions escalated as the match started, with a melee occurring near the Israeli fans' section. Security stewards quickly intervened to contain the situation. The cause of the disturbance remained unclear. Though it was reported that one individual booked a seat on the Israeli side just to provoke the fans by holding up a Palestinian flag, sparking further tension at an already tense game.
Ahead of the match, hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators gathered in the Saint-Denis district of Paris, waving Palestinian, Lebanese, and Algerian flags, and holding signs protesting the match. One banner read, "We don't play with genocide," referencing the ongoing war in Gaza. Israel has denied allegations of genocide in its military actions against Hamas.
Some Israeli fans wore both Israeli and French colors, while others displayed political messages, including a "Never Forgive Never Forget" shirt referencing Maccabi Tel Aviv. One individual was seen holding a sign reading "F*ck Hamas."
Despite previous unrest in Amsterdam, where Maccabi Tel Aviv fans clashed with local groups, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirmed that there were no specific threats ahead of the match, though he acknowledged that "zero risk" did not exist.
French President Emmanuel Macron attended the game in a show of solidarity, telling BFM TV, "We will not give in to anti-Semitism anywhere, and violence, including in France, will never prevail, nor will intimidation."
The match took place on the eve of the ninth anniversary of coordinated Islamist attacks across Paris, including at the national stadium.
Rising tensions related to the Gaza war have contributed to an increase in racism and intolerance in France, with similar trends seen in other parts of Europe. Last week, clashes between Maccabi fans and local gangs in Amsterdam led to nearly 70 arrests and at least five injuries.