French authorities are deploying 4,000 police officers in Paris ahead of Thursday’s football match between France and Israel, amid concerns over potential unrest and planned protests.
The security operation represents a three to four-fold increase from typical match deployments at the Stade de France, Paris police chief Laurent Nunez told RTL radio.
The heightened measures come in the wake of violent clashes between Israeli fans and locals at a match in Amsterdam last week.
Ticket sales for the match have been remarkably low, with only 20,000 of the 80,000 available seats sold at the Stade de France – the lowest turnout since the stadium’s inauguration.
Pro-Palestinian protesters plan to gather outside the Saint-Denis town hall, approximately a 20-minute walk from the stadium, to voice their opposition to the match.
A survey by supporters’ group Les Irreductibles Francais found that 15 per cent of members would boycott the match due to the Israel-Gaza war, whilst 30 per cent cited security concerns.
French police will reploy 4,000 officers to Paris to stop similar scenes to Amsterdam last week
Reuters
The Amsterdam clashes saw Israeli fans burn a Palestinian flag and destroy a taxi before the match, with videos showing them chanting anti-Arab phrases.
Following the game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, Israeli supporters were attacked with fireworks and by people on scooters.
Five Israelis were hospitalised and between 20 to 30 others received mild injuries in the violence.
“Many of these young people were scared to go as they had in their heads these appalling images from Amsterdam,” said Aurelien Bernheim, co-founder of the Movement for French Jews.
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French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the match as a “message of fraternity and solidarity” following the Amsterdam incidents, his office said.
Several other prominent political figures, including former Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande, are also expected to attend.
Pro-Palestinian groups have drawn parallels with sports sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, arguing similar measures should apply to Israel.
Amsterdan was a scene of violence and disorder after Ajax played Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League
Reuters
“Europe has censured Russian athletes and should do the same with Israeli athletes,” said Sabine Agostini, a French Lebanese supporter of France’s national team.
Israeli authorities have advised their supporters against attending the match and warned Israelis abroad to avoid wearing recognisable Israeli or Jewish symbols.
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Scenes of violence spilled out onto the streets of Amsterdam last week
Reuters
Only French and Israel flags will be permitted inside the stadium, according to Paris police chief Laurent Nunez.
“If we don’t stir up hatred between communities, I think people can live perfectly peacefully, especially in stadiums. Because it’s just sports,” said Rodrigue Flahaut-Prevot, a lawyer and season ticket holder in Paris.