The Israeli men’s soccer team received a chilly reception from fans in their opening Olympic match against Mali at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Wednesday night.
Fans booed and whistled inside the stadium as the Israeli national anthem was played.
The volume on the stadium speakers was turned up, apparently to drown out the heckling.
Israeli soccer players faced booing every time they touched the ball.
Israel coach Guy Ruzon supported the protests at a press conference on Tuesday.
“Have the biggest protests,” he said at the time, via Ynet News. “They will motivate us to try harder.”
The match against Mali started off tense with the team arriving under heavy police escort.
Armed police officers patrolled the stadium in an attempt to quell tensions.
However, videos on social media showed clashes between fans.
In one particular instance, a woman held up a Palestinian flag.
Two other people holding Palestinian flags then stood next to the woman.
2024 Paris Olympics
Security officials intervened in the incident.
“We owe this security to the whole world,” French Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin said. “Any threat to our country is a threat that worries the Western countries.”
AP
Meanwhile, Israel and Mali played out a 1-1 draw, with both teams earning points in Group D.
Israel will play Paraguay on Saturday.
Paris is deploying 35,000 police officers every day during the Olympics, with an estimated 45,000 at the opening ceremony on the Seine.
France has also received support from more than 40 countries, which have sent around 2,000 police reinforcements.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
