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Whistles were heard during Israel’s national anthem inside the Stade de France before kick-off on Thursday night, with the 80,000-seat stadium largely empty.
France are hosting Israel in the Nations League this week amid heightened tensions between Israelis and pro-Palestine protestors.
It comes after shocking scenes of violence last week in Amsterdam when Ajax played Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.
Footage emerged of Israeli fans being hunted down in the streets by mobs on electric scooters and being beaten up, leading to Israel sending planes to evacuate those stuck in the city.
Whistles were heard during Israel’s anthem as they prepared to play France
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There were also scenes of anti-semitic hooligans targeting fans by demanding their passports to check if they were from Israel.
And against a backdrop of further protests staged around Paris this week, Israel’s national anthem was loudly booed and jeered inside the Stade de France.
French president Emmanuel Macron was joined by former presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy inside the ground in a show of solidarity with the victims of antisemitism.
Before kick-off, Macron told the French TV channel BFMTV: “We will not give in to antisemitism anywhere and violence, including in the French Republic, will never prevail, nor will intimidation.”
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The match had already been designated “high risk” before a ball had kicked due to the rising tensions.
Pro-Palestine protestors, many of whom had covered their faces, clashed with riot police and lit flares on Wednesday night while footage also saw various shops smashed up and terrorised families eating inside a McDonald’s.
French authorities insisted they had learned from the Amsterdam violence, ramping up police on the streets by 4,000 ahead of Thursday’s kick-off.
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Pro-Palestine protestors clashed with riot police in Paris on Wednesday night
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Only French and Israel flags have been allowed inside the Stade de France while bags were also banned.
A huge security perimeter was also enforced around the venue.
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Despite the low attendance, fans can be heard whistling during ‘Israel’ national anthem at the Stade de France. pic.twitter.com/yjeMrPzavm
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) November 14, 2024
France boss Didier Deschamps admitted that the tensions had reached the players.
“Obviously none of us within the team can be insensitive to such a heavy context,” he said.
“It impacts the amount of supporters present tomorrow and everything that goes with it.”
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