NEW DELHI: The Nations League match between France and Israel at the Stade de France on Thursday was overshadowed by tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Despite the deployment of 4,000 security personnel, there were instances of booing during the Israeli national anthem and minor scuffles inside the stadium.
The attendance of 16,611 was the lowest for the French national team at the Stade de France since its opening in 1998, with many fans opting to stay away due to security concerns.
The sparse crowd was a reflection of the frictions surrounding the match, which took place against the backdrop of the Gaza war.
READ ALSO: 'Kylian Mbappé not at happiest period of his career': France coach Didier DeschampsWhile some Israeli fans defied their government's warning against travelling for sports events, anti-Israeli demonstrators gathered outside the stadium, waving Palestinian flags and protesting against the match.
The protesters carried banners condemning the Gaza offensive, with one reading, "We don't play with genocide."
Despite the tensions, the match proceeded without major incidents, ending in a goalless draw.
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French President Emmanuel Macron attended the game as a show of solidarity, emphasizing the need to combat anti-Semitism and violence.
"We will not give into anti-Semitism anywhere and violence, including in France, will never prevail, nor will intimidation," he told France's BFM TV ahead of kickoff.
The match highlighted the broader societal issues surrounding the Gaza conflict, with racism and intolerance on the rise in France and other parts of Europe.
The clashes between Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and local groups in Amsterdam the previous week further underscored the potential for tensions to spill over into the sporting arena.
While the match itself was a symbolic gesture of normalcy, the surrounding events and low attendance reflected the complex dynamics at play, with the Gaza conflict casting a long shadow over the sporting encounter.
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