Social media and various French news outlets shared video clips showcasing the protesters, who were seen lying on the ground or displaying banners adorned with political messages and Palestinian flags within the federation’s premises. Among their chants were demands to halt the France-Israel match at the Stade de France, echoing their sentiments loud and clear.
While the French soccer federation has yet to issue a public response regarding the protest, local reports indicate that law enforcement intervened to escort the demonstrators away from the scene in a calm manner.
Previously, French officials announced that the match would proceed as planned, allowing spectators to attend the event. This decision came after a similar game in Italy featuring Israel took place without any reported incidents, despite looming security issues.
The match, set for November 14 at the Stade de France, occurs amidst ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which have escalated to involve neighboring Lebanon following a prolonged conflict in Gaza. This backdrop has added further weight to the already sensitive nature of the sporting event.
Notably, the contest against Italy marked Israel’s first match played outside of neutral Hungary since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October of the previous year. Last November, Israel’s national team participated in matches held in Kosovo and Andorra, as safety concerns limited where they could play. Since then, their games have exclusively taken place in Hungary, with instances like the Nations League match against Belgium, which was relocated due to the Belgian Football Association’s security worries.