A skirmish broke out in the stands of the Stade de France during a tense UEFA Nations League match between France and Israel.
The altercation, involving a small group of Israeli fans, was swiftly contained by stadium security, with riot police stationed nearby to ensure order. Authorities had classified the match as “high risk” due to recent hooliganism and antisemitic incidents surrounding a Europa League game between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Netherlands.
The Israeli national anthem was booed by some attendees before the game began, setting a charged atmosphere. The clash occurred within the first 10 minutes of the match but was quickly quashed by security. Riot police were visible at the edge of the stands but did not need to intervene.
French officials were on heightened alert for the game, which saw several prominent political figures in attendance. President Emmanuel Macron, flanked by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Prime Minister Michel Barnier, attended the match to show solidarity against antisemitism. Former Presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy also joined the crowd of fewer than 20,000 spectators—a record low for the 80,000-capacity stadium.
Macron emphasized France’s stance against discrimination during an interview with BFMTV, saying, “We will not give in to antisemitism anywhere and violence, including in the French Republic, will never prevail, nor will intimidation.”
