A heavy police presence is expected in Paris as France prepares to host Israel in a Nations League soccer match following recent violence in Amsterdam. The French police chief announced that 4,000 police officers and security staff will be deployed around the Stade de France, with an additional 1,500 police on public transport duty.
The heightened security measures come in the wake of violence that erupted in Amsterdam during a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The incidents involved fans from both teams and were widely condemned as antisemitic.
Paris authorities are on high alert, with only around 20,000 tickets sold for the match at the 80,000-capacity stadium. The atmosphere has shifted from festive to fearful, with the national stadium expected to be three-quarters empty. French President Emmanuel Macron, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, and former presidents are set to attend the match.
France coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the heavy context surrounding the game, with only around 150 Israel supporters expected to attend, escorted by police. The low number of visiting fans is attributed to a warning issued by Israel's National Security Council advising citizens to avoid such events.
Exceptional security measures will be in place before, during, and after the match, with elite tactical units and plainclothes police officers deployed. Retailleau emphasized the importance of preventing a repeat of the violent events witnessed in Amsterdam.
The match is set to take place as scheduled, despite protests and demonstrations planned in Saint-Denis. The suburb north of Paris will host the game at 8:45 p.m. local time.
The Stade de France holds significance as one of the locations targeted during the 2015 terror attacks in Paris. Deschamps recalled the tragic events of that night when France was playing Germany, highlighting the somber history associated with the stadium.
