A minor altercation involving supporters of Israel erupted in the stands during a highly charged match between Israel’s and France’s men’s football team at the Stade de France. However, the robust police presence ensured that a repeat of the severe violence witnessed in Amsterdam was averted. The match had been classified as “high risk” following the hooliganism and anti-Semitism that marred a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Netherlands.

The Israeli national anthem was met with boos from some sections of the crowd before the game, and within the first ten minutes, a small group of fans clashed in the upper stands. The skirmish was swiftly addressed by security personnel, with riot police positioned nearby ready to intervene if necessary. The authorities in Paris had been on high alert.

Emmanuel Macron, who attended the game alongside his interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, and prime minister Michel Barnier, expressed solidarity with the victims of anti-Semitism, stating that France would not tolerate discrimination. Former presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy were also present to witness the goalless draw.

Macron emphasized on French TV channel BFMTV: “We will not yield to anti-Semitism or violence, not even within the French Republic, and intimidation will never prevail.” The attendance at the Uefa Nations League match was under 20,000, marking the lowest turnout in the 80,000-capacity stadium.

Patrick Bensimon, co-founder of the NGO Diaspora Defense Forces, organized transportation for 600 Israel fans to the stadium via chartered buses under police escort. He noted that 80% of those present did not initially wish to attend, citing fears following the events in Amsterdam.

One Israel fan, draped in the Israeli flag, expressed outside the stadium: “We want to demonstrate that we are not afraid of anyone, except God.” His companion added, “We should not mix sport with politics,” hoping for a peaceful environment outside the stadium.

Despite the low turnout, approximately 4,000 police officers and 1,600 security personnel were deployed around the stadium. The Israeli government had advised its citizens to avoid the match due to heightened tensions.

A pro-Palestinian demonstration, about two kilometers from the stadium, attracted a few hundred protesters. They marched towards the stadium but were halted by riot police. Éric Coquerel, an MP and member of the left-wing La France Insoumise party, criticized the situation, stating, “We are living in a schizophrenic moment.”

French police chief Laurent Nuñez highlighted that his team had learned from the incidents in the Netherlands, emphasizing the need for a strong presence in public spaces, even far from the stadium. Ticket sales concluded at 11am on Thursday, with fans warned against bringing bags into the stadium. Only the French and Israeli national flags were permitted, and thorough searches were conducted at checkpoints.

Concerns about potential unrest were raised after riot police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters at a gala event in Paris, where funds were being raised for the Israeli military. A report by Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, attributed the violence in Amsterdam to a “toxic mix of anti-Semitism, football hooliganism, and anger over the conflict in Palestine and Israel.”

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