Tensions flared at a UEFA Nations League game on Thursday, as some French fans booed the Israeli national anthem at the Stade de France. The sparsely attended match, overshadowed by heightened emotions surrounding the Gaza war, ended in a goalless draw.
In a bid to avoid the violence witnessed during a Europa League game in Amsterdam last week, French authorities deployed 4,000 security personnel to ensure safety in and around the stadium. Despite the precautions, minor scuffles erupted near the section designated for Israeli fans, leading to a brief melee that was quickly contained by stewards.
The Israeli fans, numbering around 100, defied their government’s advice against traveling for sports events. Waving yellow balloons and chanting “Free the Hostages,” they occupied a small corner of the stadium, which saw its lowest-ever attendance—16,611—since opening in 1998. The 80,000-capacity venue was barely a fifth full, reflecting widespread security concerns.
Protests against the match also unfolded outside the stadium. Several hundred demonstrators gathered in Saint-Denis, waving Palestinian, Lebanese, and Algerian flags. One banner read, "We don’t play with genocide," referencing Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza, which Israel has denied constitutes genocide. Two Palestinian flags were displayed at the south end of the stadium during the match.
French President Emmanuel Macron attended the match, underscoring his commitment to combating antisemitism and violence. "We will not give in to antisemitism anywhere, and violence, including in France, will never prevail," Macron told *BFM TV* before kickoff.
The match coincided with the ninth anniversary of the 2015 Islamist terror attacks in Paris, adding a poignant backdrop to the event.
The unrest in Paris mirrors rising intolerance and polarization across Europe, amplified by the ongoing war in Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. Last week’s violent clashes in Amsterdam between Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and local groups resulted in nearly 70 arrests and five injuries.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau defended the decision to proceed with the match, asserting there were no specific threats but acknowledging the impossibility of guaranteeing zero risk.
The game’s volatile atmosphere reflects a growing challenge for European nations as geopolitical conflicts spill into their sports arenas and public spaces.