Football fans run screaming as chaos erupts at Stade De France during France v Israel game with 4,000 police deployed
FIGHTING erupted in a stadium in Paris as France and Israel faced off in a Nations League football game with fans fleeing for the exit.
Footage posted on social media showed chaos erupting inside the Stade de France as spectators ran from their seats with some screaming heard in the stands.
It is unclear exactly how the fighting broke out, with people carrying both French and Israeli flags seen running in the footage amid loud shouts and booing.
Football fans whose teams were not clear could be seen clambering over seats to get away from the tussle – concentrated in one area of the huge stadium.
Security officials at the event were seen desperately scrambling to separate fans and bring an end to the fighting.
Some of those filmed throwing punches wore balaclavas and puffer jackets.
One clip showed two fans from an unknown team taking a picture in the stadium as brawls broke out in the tier above them.
Ahead of the match, Paris‘ police chief called it a “high-risk event” with officials announcing there would be at least one cop per three football fans in the capital.
Chief Laurent Nuñez said that 4,000 officers would patrol around the game in a steel-ring security operation with 2,500 inside the Stade de France and the rest around the capital.
The stadium was reported to have some three quarters empty after a boycott was announced along with Israeli government warnings for their fans not to attend.
Those who did go to the game – with only 100 Israeli tickets purchased – appeared to be concentrated in one section of the stadium where the fighting broke out.
Organisers told The Sun that they were struggling to sell tickets due to issues around Israel with the Middle Eastern conflict – with less than 20,000 seats reserved out of the 80,000 capacity.
The Israeli government previously told travelling supporters to “categorically avoid attending” the France match.
But, after a 0-0 end to the match, officials directed fans through different exit points and appeared to successfully prevent any escalation outside of the Stade de France.
The tension in the stadium during the first 45 minutes of the game had ignited fears of continued violence throughout the night, as seen in Amsterdam.
Concerns of further violence was high as pro-Palestinian protestors held demonstrations directly outside the venue.
Over 6,500 special forces and gun-touting gendarmes were readied for the match with pictures showing mounted officers and cop vans blocking off routes in Paris before the game.
Several extensive security measures were put in place as Paris geared up for the international fixture.
This protective double ring of steel was also flagged by Israeli security forces, including agents from the Mossad intelligence agency.
Another few hundred cops were deployed across transport networks leading to Paris’ northern suburbs.
Despite safety fears, French President Emmanuel Macron and his prime minister, Michel Barnier attended the match.
Macron and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu have been at loggerheads in recent months over the Middle East.
The French prime minister accused the PM of “spreading barbarism” across Gaza and Lebanon with his continued assaults on Hamas and Hezbollah.
But, Macron spoke on the issues around tonight’s game telling BFM TV: “We will not give in to antisemitism, anywhere.
“And violence, including in the French Republic, will never prevail, nor will intimidation.”
RISING CONCERNS
Fears of violence drastically ramped up in recent days after thousands of pro-Palestinian marchers took to the streets of Paris in protest against a controversial far-right gala taking place in the capital.
Just a week ago, disturbing footage also showed Israeli football fans being chased through the streets of Amsterdam by an anti-Semitic mob.
Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were ambushed by masked rioters in the Dutch city as they left the Johan Cruyff stadium last Thursday.
This has prompted international concerns over the safety of Jewish fans particularly those watching Israeli-based teams.
As a precaution, the Israel team was confined to their undisclosed hotel in the Val d’Oise region to the north of the capital before the match.
Constant armed guards were at the base and accompanied the players and staff to their training site on Tuesday and all media activities were cancelled.
Manager Ran Ben Shimon revealed to the press that he and the team felt safe.
Other extra safety precautions saw bars and restaurants in the area instructed to close in the early afternoon to avoid any disruption.
Many called on the French government to move the match away from Paris – even before the issues in Amsterdam kicked off.
Swaths of opposition sides have decided to move their games against Israel to neutral venues since the Middle Eastern conflict reached boiling point.
The team is now set to travel to play against Belgium on Sunday.
This match has already faced intense scrutiny with it being moved to a neutral venue in Hungary due to safety fears.