French authorities announced heightened security for the France-Israel UEFA Nations League match set for Thursday, deploying 4,000 police and 1,600 stadium staff to manage security in and around the Stade de France and on public transportation.
The upgraded safety precautions were put in place due to widespread violence against Israeli fans in Amsterdam after the match [1] between Dutch club Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv FC last Thursday. The chaos ended with dozens of arrests made and several hospitalizations.
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez told BFM TV the match is deemed a high-risk event, given the tense context, and said authorities “won’t tolerate” violence. Nuñez confirmed an anti-terrorist security perimeter will surround the stadium with reinforced security checks, including systematic pat-downs and bag searches.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to attend the match, according to his office, the Elysee presidential palace, a decision that one of his aides said was to demonstrate “fraternity and solidarity following the intolerable antisemitic acts” in Amsterdam.
Israel’s National Security Council issued a warning on Sunday, urging its citizens to avoid sports events, particularly the Paris match, due to heightened concerns of targeted violence.
France is home to Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim populations, making Paris a potential site for inflamed interreligious violence related to the war in Gaza.
The French Interior Minister confirmed the match would proceed, emphasizing the importance of upholding “universal values” in sports.