French authorities have intensified security measures in the capital to secure the match scheduled this Thursday between the French and Israeli teams for the Nations League. The alert level has been raised to the highest, amid a tense political climate, to prevent a repeat of last week’s violent clashes between locals and Israeli fans in Amsterdam.
French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the game alongside Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau “to show his full support for the French team, but also to send a message of fraternity and solidarity after the antisemitic attacks following the football match in Amsterdam this week,” according to the Élysée Palace.
Laurent Nuñez, the French police chief, revealed on RTL radio on Wednesday that around 4,000 police officers will be deployed to secure the match, both inside and around the stadium, with an additional 1,500 officers in public transportation. The spectator count is capped at 20,000 instead of the stadium’s 80,000 capacity, marking an exceptional measure three to four times larger than usual. Only French and Israeli flags will be allowed inside the stadium.
