Police officers stand guard ahead the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Denmark at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, France, Friday, June 3, 2022. (AP Photo)
Police and authorities on Paris are on high alert ahead of the Israel football team’s visit to the French capital to take on France in a Nations League football match later on Thursday.
Police chief Laurent Nuñez announced that 4,000 police officers and security staff are being deployed around the Stade de France which will host Israel’s match against France. Meanwhile, another 1,500 police will be on duty on public transport in the city.
The Associated Press news agency reported that elite tactical unit of the French National Police (RAID) will be deployed in the Stade de France stadium. There will also be police in plain clothes mingling with fans. There will also be heavy surveillance within Paris, including at Jewish places of worship and schools.
‘Zero risk does not exist’
The extraordinary measures come on the back of fan violence in Amsterdam before and after a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Dutch authorities pointed out that fans from both sides were involved in the violence. Maccabi fans were assaulted in attacks that were condemned as antisemitic.
“What we learned from Amsterdam is that we need to be present in the public space including far away from the stadium and in public transports before and after the match,” Nuñez told French news broadcaster France Info.
In another interview with news channel TF1 earlier on Tuesday, Retailleau had said that “zero risk does not exist” in terms of the match.
According to the AP report, only 20,000 of 80,000 tickets available for the match have been sold. Around 150 Israel supporters are expected to attend and will be escorted by police to the ground. Israel’s National Security Council had warned its citizens abroad to avoid sports and cultural events, while making a special mention of the Nations League football match in Paris.
