By Nakiwala Barbra
In response to recent violence and heightened geopolitical tensions, France has mobilized thousands of police officers to secure Thursday’s UEFA Nations League match between France and Israel at the Stade de France.
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez described the game as “high-risk,” citing an “extremely tense geopolitical context.” Security will be especially tight following last week’s violence in Amsterdam, where Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were attacked after a match against Ajax.
Approximately 4,000 police officers will be deployed across Paris, with 2,500 stationed at the Stade de France and others monitoring public transit and central areas. In addition, around 1,600 private security guards will be on duty at the stadium, and an elite anti-terrorist unit will be tasked with protecting the Israeli team.
Despite the enhanced security, attendance is expected to be low, with the stadium only a quarter full. Fewer than 100 Israeli fans are anticipated to travel to Paris following guidance from the Israeli government, though other Israel supporters may attend.
The recent violence in Amsterdam, where Israeli fans clashed with rioters and vandalized public property, has renewed European concerns over antisemitism. Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were reportedly involved in tearing down a Palestinian flag, attacking a taxi, and chanting anti-Arab slogans, which led to retaliation from small groups of rioters.
This unrest, along with growing political tensions in the Middle East, has heightened fears that conflicts may spill over into Europe, particularly in countries with large Muslim and Jewish populations, such as France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
In a show of solidarity with Jewish communities, President Emmanuel Macron plans to attend the match alongside Prime Minister Michel Barnier and former presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy. Macron’s decision to attend has drawn criticism from France’s far-left party, France Unbowed (LFI), which has called for the game’s cancellation.
LFI deputy David Guiraud argued that Macron should not honor “a country that commits genocide,” an accusation Israel has firmly denied as distorted and inflammatory. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau rejected calls to cancel the game, affirming that “France does not give way to those who sow hatred.”
Security at the Stade de France has been heightened since chaotic scenes at the 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, though recent events like the Rugby World Cup and the lead-up to the Paris Olympics have been managed without incident. For Thursday’s game, supporters can expect extensive security checks, and nearby bars and restaurants have been ordered to close from the afternoon as a precaution.
In the lead-up to the match, tensions have been further inflamed by pro-Palestinian protests in Paris, with demonstrators calling for the match’s cancellation. Earlier this month, activists briefly occupied the French Football Federation’s headquarters, while protests in central Paris this week saw demonstrators clash with police, who used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Relations between France and Israel have been strained recently, with President Macron openly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the situation in Gaza and Lebanon. Macron’s comment that Israel should heed United Nations calls for a ceasefire, pointing out that “his country was itself created by a decision of the UN,” was interpreted by some Israelis as dismissive.
Additional tensions arose when Israeli authorities briefly detained two French officials in East Jerusalem, a site under French administration, aggravating diplomatic frictions.
Despite these complexities, both nations remain committed to participating in Thursday’s match, where France and Israel will compete alongside Italy and Belgium in their Nations League group. Following France’s 4-1 victory over Israel in Budapest during their previous match, Thursday’s game will be watched closely both for the action on the field and the political and social tensions surrounding it.
