The UEFA Nations League football match between France and Israel at the Stade de France saw a historic low attendance, with only 16,611 spectators in the stands.
The match was overshadowed by brief clashes in the crowd as Israel’s national anthem was met with loud booing. In response, security was tightened, with around 4,000 police officers and 1,600 security personnel deployed around the stadium, including riot police stationed on-site.
Despite the heavy security presence and the pre-match tensions, the game, which was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Michel Barnier, concluded without major incidents of violence.
The low turnout came just days after pro-Palestinian protests in Amsterdam led to clashes, and the event saw only a small number of Israeli fans in attendance.
Around 100 Israeli fans defied government advice against travel and were seated in a corner of the 80,000-capacity stadium. During the game, they held yellow balloons and chanted, “Free the Hostages,” in a reference to Israelis held by Hamas in Gaza.
Approximately two kilometres from the stadium, a pro-Palestinian protest outside the Front Populaire Métro station in St-Denis drew several hundred demonstrators. The group marched towards the stadium but was dispersed by riot police.
Éric Coquerel, an MP from the left-wing France Unbowed party, criticised the government’s approach to the event. “We are living in a schizophrenic moment,” he said. “On the one hand, international institutions recognise the existence of a genocide in Gaza. On the other, we have a French government that reluctantly agrees to call for a ceasefire.”
Coquerel argued that Macron’s attendance at the match sent a signal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, allowing further military action in Gaza. “France is looking the other way,” he said, questioning if Macron would attend a match between France and Russia under similar circumstances.
In response to the Amsterdam incidents, Macron reaffirmed France’s stance against antisemitism. However, tensions between the country’s Muslim and Jewish communities persist, with both groups expressing solidarity with Palestinians and Israelis, respectively.
Thursday’s game came amid strained relations between Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following Macron’s recent remarks condemning alleged “barbarism” in Gaza and Lebanon. Macron’s remarks, which were perceived as conflicting with prior statements supporting Israel, have led to frustration within France’s Jewish communities.
France advanced to the Nations League quarter-finals following a goalless draw with Israel.
In central Amsterdam, police detained pro-Palestinian protesters on Wednesday, defying a ban imposed after violent clashes linked to a football match between Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Dozens of demonstrators, some waving Palestinian flags, chanted slogans such as “Amsterdam says no to genocide” and “Free Palestine.” Riot police surrounded the group, who were detained and taken away by bus.
Emergency measures, including expanded stop-and-search powers, have allowed police to detain or remove hundreds of demonstrators since the clashes last week.
Many social media questioned Israel participation in UEFA, despite not being in Europe.
Why is Israel a member of UEFA?
Israel was admitted as an associated member of UEFA in 1992 and was admitted as a full member in 1994, despite not being in Europe.
It came after Israel was banned from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) group of FIFA in 1974.
Calls for Israel to be banned completely from FIFA have intensified after its implementation of apartheid policies. Many have called for Israel to be banned along the same lines as apartheid-era South Africa.
Those calls have been unsuccessful so far.
A UN Special Rapporteur’s report in 2022, after analysing Israel’s 55-year occupation of Palestinian territory, recoginsed the Zionist state’s apartheid policies.
Moer recently since Israel launched its military invasion on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly, with over 43,500 Palestinians reported killed and tens of thousands more wounded.
Israel’s actions have drawn widespread international condemnation, with accusations of war crimes and genocide.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently reviewing a case against Israel for its actions in Gaza, as critics argue that the disproportionate force used in its attacks violates international law, particularly the Geneva Conventions.
Reports from the UN have highlighted that over 80% of civilian casualties in Gaza resulted from Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings or similar structures..
