France vs Israel: Heightened Security and Protests Mark UEFA Nations League Match

The UEFA Nations League match between France and Israel, scheduled for Thursday, November 14, at the Stade de France in Paris, is set to take place under heightened security measures. This follows the violent incidents in Amsterdam last week during a match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, which saw supporters of the Israeli club attacked and anti-Arab slogans chanted[2][4].

French President Emmanuel Macron, along with former presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, will attend the match, aiming to demonstrate confidence in France’s law enforcement and solidarity against anti-Semitism. The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, has assured that an extra 2,000 police and private security officers will be deployed around the stadium and across Paris to ensure security[2].

Pro-Palestinian groups have planned protests in Paris, arguing that France should not host the Israeli national team due to ongoing conflicts in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. The rally, organized under the slogan “We don’t play with genocide. No to the France-Israel match,” aims to push for sporting sanctions against Israel[2].

The match itself is significant for both teams, with France seeking to maintain their position in the UEFA Nations League group and Israel needing a win to keep their survival hopes alive. However, the game is expected to be played in front of a sparse crowd, with only about 20,000 tickets sold for the 80,000-capacity Stade de France[2][5].

France’s team is dealing with internal issues, including the absence of star player Kylian Mbappe and injuries to several key players. Despite these challenges, France is favored to win, given their strong recent form and Israel’s poor performance in the group stage[3].

The match will be broadcast in the USA on FOX Soccer Plus and can be streamed live on Fubo, providing American fans with multiple viewing options[3].