Decision Made on France-Israel Match Relocation Request

The French government has rejected a request to relocate the upcoming UEFA Nations League A match between France and Israel, which is scheduled to be held in France. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced his decision not to change the venue for the match, set for November 14.

In a statement posted on his X account, Retailleau acknowledged that some had called for the France-Israel football match to be moved to another location. However, he firmly stated, “I do not accept this: France does not back down because doing so would mean yielding to threats of violence and antisemitism.” He confirmed that, under his directive, Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez has taken necessary security measures to ensure the match proceeds safely at the Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.

In response to the match, a group of pro-Palestinian activists held a protest on November 4 at the French Football Federation (FFF) headquarters in Paris, calling for the cancellation of the game. Protesters inside the FFF building displayed banners reading “Criminal Israel, FFF is an accomplice,” “No to the Israel-France match at Stade de France,” and “Stop genocide, silence kills,” voicing opposition to Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.

Elsewhere in Europe, tensions around matches involving Israeli teams have been high. In Amsterdam, during a UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israeli supporters clashed with pro-Palestinian activists. Dutch police detained 57 people for offenses such as possession and use of fireworks and disturbing public order before and after the game.