Security alarm in Saint-Denis: Football evening ends in emptiness and grief

Security alarm in Saint-Denis: Football evening ends in emptiness and grief

A dark evening in the Stade de France! While helicopters circled over Saint-Denis and special units were in wait, the stadium was almost empty. Only 16,611 spectators, including France President Emmanuel Macron, experienced a bleak 0-0 of the Équipe Tricolore against Israel. "This is not a context that you want to experience again," complained national coach Didier Deschamp after this ominous spectacle.

The security situation was tense and the game took a back seat. Thanks to a massive police force, larger riots could be prevented. However, the events related to the Nation's League game throw a shadow at future sporting events in Europe with Israeli participation. A week ago there were serious attacks on the fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam, which also fueled the situation.

a sad sight

"It hurts a bit in my heart to see the stadium like this," said striker Randal Randal Kolo Muani. Despite the lean performance and the ghostly atmosphere, the French team managed to qualify for the quarter -finals. "The fans were there, they pushed us to the end, that's nice," he added. A total of 40 people were arrested in connection with the game, while the police were on site with over 4,000 forces. After the final whistle, Israel's national coach Ran Ben Shimon thanked the French authorities for exceptional security. "We would like to thank the security guards that they have protected us," he said.

Despite the successful security measures, the evening in Saint-Denis is remembered as a "sad evening", as the newspaper "L’équipe" aptly noticed. The shadows of violence and fear overlap the sport and make the future appear uncertain.