France deploys 4,000 police for Israel-France ‘Nations League’ football match

Paris: France has mobilized 4,000 police officers to ensure security for the upcoming UEFA Nations League match between France and Israel at the Stade de France on Thursday, November 14.

The high-profile match, which will be held in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, is being closely monitored due to rising concerns over security and the potential for violent clashes.

Around 2,600 gendarmes and police officers will be stationed around the stadium, with plainclothes officers also deployed in the stands.

The French elite riot police (CRS) will patrol Paris to ensure public order, and the hotel housing the Israeli national team will be under constant surveillance.

To further secure the event, the first few rows of the stadium will remain empty to prevent potential pitch invasions.

This significant security presence follows calls from some groups to relocate the match due to the heightened tensions surrounding the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

However, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has strongly rejected such proposals, emphasizing that giving in to threats of violence and antisemitism would not be an option.

“France will not back down,” Retailleau stated, underlining the importance of maintaining the match at its scheduled venue.

The deployment of 4,000 officers comes after several incidents involving violence and antisemitism tied to recent football matches involving Israeli teams.

In Amsterdam, for instance, violent clashes broke out following an Europa League game between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv on November 7.

Israeli soccer fans were ambushed and assaulted by assailants who reportedly sought them out in the city’s streets. These attacks were widely condemned as antisemitic, with Dutch authorities launching investigations and taking additional security measures to prevent further unrest.

The violence in Amsterdam has drawn comparisons to historical antisemitic incidents, including Kristallnacht, as Israeli officials expressed alarm over the safety of their citizens abroad.

In response, Dutch authorities have imposed a temporary ban on demonstrations in Amsterdam and ramped up police presence, with the aim of ensuring public safety and protecting Jewish and Israeli individuals in the city.

As for the match itself, France’s national team, coached by Didier Deschamps, is currently second in Group A2 of the Nations League and will secure a spot in the quarterfinals if they win against Israel.

However, France will be without star player Kylian Mbappé, who has been excluded from the squad for the second consecutive month, a decision that has sparked controversy.

Deschamps explained that Mbappé’s absence was due to a “one-off decision” to allow the player to rest and recover from injury.

The French squad will face Israel in Saint-Denis before traveling to Milan for a match against Italy, the group leaders.

Despite Mbappé’s absence, the team remains strong, with veteran players like N’Golo Kanté and Adrien Rabiot rejoining the squad, alongside several younger talents, including Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier and Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku.

The deployment of thousands of police officers reflects growing concerns over the safety of international sports events, especially in light of recent global tensions.

France, like many European countries, is facing pressure to balance security concerns with maintaining the spirit of international competition in the wake of escalating geopolitical conflicts.