Israeli anthem booed, fight broke out in France match

4,000 French security personnel have been deployed in and around the stadium and on public transport to prevent a repeat of violence related to last week’s Europa League match in Amsterdam involving Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Reuters

15 November 2024 15:05

Last modified: 15 November 2024, 15:39

Football Football – Nations League – Group Stage – France v Israel – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – 14 November 2024 Israeli fans clash with security guards during match REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

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Some French fans booed the Israeli national anthem and there were minor scuffles at the sparsely attended Stade de France on Thursday for a Nations League match overshadowed by friction over the Gaza war.

4,000 French security personnel have been deployed in and around the stadium and on public transport to prevent a repeat of the violence associated with last week’s Europa League match in Amsterdam involving Maccabi Tel Aviv.

About 100 Israeli fans sat in a corner of the 80,000-capacity stadium, which was barely a fifth full, defying their government’s warning not to travel for sporting events.

The attendance of 16,611, with many away from the grounds due to security fears, was the lowest attendance at the Stade de France since Les Bleus opened in 1998. The match ended 0-0.

During the playing of the Israeli national anthem, some booing and whistling were heard, and then the anthem was played through the speakers. Israeli fans waved yellow balloons and chanted “Release the hostages”, referring to the citizens held by Hamas militants.

As the match started, there was a fight that lasted for minutes near the Israeli fans section, people were seen running and punches were thrown. Officers quickly created a barrier.

It was unclear what triggered the problem.

Before the match, hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators had gathered in a square in the Saint-Denis district of Paris to protest the match, waving Palestinian and a few Lebanese and Algerian flags.

The banners read, “We do not play with genocide.” Gaza war.

At the end of the match, two Palestinian flags were hung at the south end of the stadium.

Israel denies allegations of genocide in its more than year-long offensive against Hamas.

MACRON JOINS

Some Israeli fans who came to the ground wore both Israeli and French colours. The pair were wearing T-shirts with the logo of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv on the front and the words “Ni Oubli Ni Pardon” (Never Forgive Never Forget) on the back.

One person was holding a piece of paper with the words “Fuck Hamas” written on it.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said there was no doubt that the match would go ahead this week following unrest in Amsterdam in which both Maccabi fans and local groups resorted to violence, according to Dutch police.

He said that no specific threat was detected before the match, but there was no zero risk.

French President Emmanuel Macron was at the match as a sign of solidarity. “We will not give in to anti-Semitism anywhere and violence will never prevail or intimidate, including in France,” he said before BFM TV started.

The match came one day after its ninth anniversary. Coordinated Islamist attacks At entertainment venues in the French capital, including the national stadium.

Racism and intolerance are increasing in France, partly due to the war in Gaza following Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023. We have witnessed similar trends elsewhere in Europe.

Last week, nearly 70 suspects were arrested and at least five people were injured in clashes between Maccabi fans and gangs in Amsterdam.

4,000 French security personnel have been deployed in and around the stadium and on public transport to prevent a repeat of violence related to last week’s Europa League match in Amsterdam involving Maccabi Tel Aviv.

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