World
November 15, 2024 10:10
paris - Two individuals have been arrested and taken into custody following a fight that broke out during the France-Israel football match.
The prefect of the Paris police, Laurent Nuñez, revealed on Friday morning that two people have been taken into custody after a scuffle in the stands during the France-Israel match on Thursday night. According to Nuñez, the fight was promptly subdued by the stewards of the French Football Federation (FFF). "The police inside the stadium also intervened," he added. "There were no further incidents after that," stated Laurent Nuñez, without providing further details on the identities of those involved in the scuffle. "One person was immediately arrested, and the other after the match, once we had analyzed the video footage," said the police prefect.
During the Nations League match between France and Israel on Thursday night, fights erupted in the stands. Video footage allegedly shows French supporters clashing with Israeli fans at the Stade de France. Outside the stadium, an Israeli individual was reportedly chased by a group of people but was quickly brought to safety by the police.
The stewards intervened to calm the situation before setting up a security cordon in the middle of the stands. Order was restored without interrupting the game.
Despite a "zero tolerance" policy in place, the scuffles occurred. Paris police prefect Laurent Nuñez emphasized that only French and Israeli flags were permitted inside the Stade de France. Palestinian banners and "political messages" were prohibited.
Since the violent incidents in Amsterdam following the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, concerns about unrest were evident. Stringent security measures were already in place. Approximately 4,000 police officers and gendarmes were mobilized to secure the evening, with 2,500 of them deployed around the Stade de France. Barriers were installed at the bottom of the stands to prevent trespassing onto the field.
Although only 20,000 spectators were expected in the stands, tension surrounded the match. The Israeli government urged their supporters not to travel to the Stade de France, leading to an estimated one hundred Israeli fans in the stadium.
Thursday evening's match only allowed French and Israeli flags; Palestinian banners were forbidden, as were flags representing French regions. Laurent Nuñez emphasized the need to avoid a repeat of past incidents.
A Free Palestine flag displayed during the Champions League match against Atlético Madrid on November 6th was deemed "unacceptable" by Paris police prefect Nuñez. He stated that political messages are not allowed in stadiums and would be removed promptly.
A pro-Palestinian demonstration scheduled before the match was relocated by Nuñez due to concerns over public order disruption. The opponents of the France-Israel football game were planning a gathering, but it was moved further from the stadium.
The Thursday night match was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and his predecessors Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier was also present. Sarah Aizenman, head of the anti-Semitism collective "Nous Vivrons," considered Macron's presence a strong stance against anti-Semitism.