Thousands of police have been deployed in Paris ahead of the France-Israel UEFA Nations League match, a week after violent incidents in Amsterdam in which Maccabi fans were attacked after the Ajax-Maccabi game.
4,000 police on foot in Paris for the “high risk” race
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said 4,000 officers would be on foot, 2,500 at the Stade de France in the northern suburbs of Paris and the rest on public transport and inside the capital.
In addition, around 1,600 private security guards will be on duty at the stadium and an elite anti-terrorist unit will protect the visiting Israeli team.
“It’s a high-stakes race [λόγω] of an extremely tense geopolitical framework,” said Mr. Nunez adding that authorities “will not tolerate any violence.”
The match at the Stade de France will be attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, aiming to “send a message of brotherhood and solidarity” following the “intolerable acts of anti-Semitism” that followed the match in Amsterdam this week. He will be joined by Prime Minister Michel Barnier as well as former presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy
The stadium, which holds 80,000, will only be a quarter full. Following advice from the Israeli government, no more than 100 Israeli fans are expected to travel to Paris, although other supporters of Israel may go to the match.
In addition, identity checks are expected before the game while bars and restaurants in the area have been asked to close from the afternoon.
It is noted that France, Belgium and the Netherlands have large Muslim populations of North African origin and live next to much smaller Jewish populations, who primarily strongly identify with Israel.
Source: Sport Fm
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