Violence erupted inside the Stade de France as Israel played against France in the Nations League as shocking scenes saw fans clashing with one another in the stands.
Despite the heavy police presence in Paris, it appears a section of hooligans managed to get inside the stadium - which already was largely empty.
Video footage posted on social media showed groups of men, largely covered up, clashing in the stands.
It comes after the Israeli national anthem was whistled before kick-off at the Stade de France, where president Emmanuel Macron attended in solidarity with Israeli fans following the attacks in Amsterdam.
Fans inside the Stade de France clashed in the stands during France vs Israel
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France police had beefed up their security ahead of kick-off with 4,000 riot police deployed around the city of Paris.
A security perimeter had been built around the Stade de France to crack down on any incidents of violence.
Scenes in Amsterdam last week where hooligans attacked Israeli fans in the streets saw security measures tightened on Thursday night.
There were also scenes of anti-semitic thugs targeting fans by demanding their passports to check if they were from Israel.
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However, it appears that their efforts have been in vain with fans clashing with one another inside the stadium - where only a reported 15,000 had attended inside the 80,000-seat ground.
On Wednesday night, pro-Palestine protestors took to the streets of Paris where they clashed with riot police.
Many of them had covered their faces and used pyrotechnics while videos on social media showed shops being smashed up.
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Israel fans had arrived at the Stade de France to support their country against France in the Nations League
Reuters
Before kick-off on Thursday night, 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.”
Only France and Israel flags were allowed inside the Stade de France but images have since been seen online of some fans smuggling in other flags, including Palestine's.
Fans were told that bags had also been banned from entry to the national stadium.
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A clash erupted during Thursday’s Nations League match between France and Israel at the Stade de France, despite increased security measures. Just days after Israeli hooligans engaged in a similar violence in Amsterdam, Israeli fans assaulted at least two French supporters ۔ pic.twitter.com/OWWWXTmiPN
— Ghous Alikhan (@AlikhanGho69458) 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.”
