Tensions flared as fighting broke out during a France-Israel football match, disrupting the game and drawing widespread attention. The clashes marred the event, leading to calls for better crowd management and sportsmanship.
French and Israeli football fans faced off during their countries’ Nations League match at the Stade de France in Paris on Thursday. French spectators booed the Israeli national anthem prior to kick-off, and many chose to boycott the game entirely due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Earlier this week, French authorities announced plans to enhance security measures following widely reported clashes involving hardcore fans of the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam, which resulted in multiple injuries.
In Paris, fans expressed their disapproval when the Israeli national team was introduced and interrupted the performance of Israel’s national anthem with whistles, according to French channel BFMTV on Thursday. Shortly after, a brawl involving around 50 individuals erupted on the stadium’s north side, prompting stewards to intervene and establish a safety perimeter.
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In social media videos claiming to depict the violence, a group of football fans waving Israeli flags seems to pursue a man in the stands and kick him once he falls.
The cause of the violence was not immediately apparent.
In a different video, the Stade de France is shown with mostly vacant stands during the match.
According to Reuters, just 16,611 spectators were present at the Nations League match held in the Stade de France, which can accommodate up to 80,000 people.
The match ignited a significant pro-Palestinian protest in Paris, where participants were spotted holding banners that read “We do not play with genocide.” Some protesters chanted “Viva, viva Palestina,” while others urged the French government to cease its military and economic collaboration with Israel.
