“Violence that recalls the most shameful hours in history. » Like almost the entire French political class, the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron had strong words after the violent attack suffered by Israeli supporters on the sidelines of a Europa League match in Amsterdam, this Thursday, November 7.
The day before, a controversy had already broken out in France due to a pro-Palestinian tifo deployed by Paris Saint-Germain supporters at the Parc des Princes. Proof that anti-Semitism is plaguing the world of football? Elements of response with Daniel Riolo, journalist in theAfter Foot on RMC and author of several books, including Autopsy of French sport (Hugo Sport, 2018) and Chaos football club (Hugo Sport, 2023).
The JDD. What was your reaction to the images of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters lynched in Amsterdam?
Daniel Riolo. I’m stunned but I admit that nothing surprises me anymore. Initially, some extremist Israeli supporters engaged in provocations. But, unfortunately, in the process, a gang of individuals wanted to retaliate by beating up a Jew. What can we say in the face of this surge of violence? And then the reactions of certain players… let’s not talk about it.
Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech, who currently plays for Turkish club Galatasaray but grew up in the Netherlands, laughed on social media by declaring that “if they are not women and children, then [les Israéliens] flee.” All while adding: “And long live free Palestine!” » These are lamentable comments, but again, nothing really surprising. Footballers have taken sides on the subject for a long time and we have clearly understood which way they lean.
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The day before these incidents, you were strongly criticized for having denounced the “Free Palestine” tifo deployed at the PSG-Atlético Madrid kick-off…
I have never received so many threats and insults in my life. And yet, I have a lot of experience in this area. All I did was give my opinion, being surprised that they removed the State of Israel from this tifo and brought up a keffiyeh. I am told that it is a message of peace. Well okay, if they say so…
Personally, on this conflict, I defend the historical position of General de Gaulle and of France. That of a two-state solution, of a desire for dialogue to restore peace. I even agree to discuss the disproportionate response of the IDF, the colonies or more broadly the government of Benyamin Netanyahu, whose ideas I am far from sharing. But the problem is that when we are not 100% pro-Palestine and condemn the actions of Hamas, with this kind of people, any dialogue becomes impossible. I really feel like we’ve reached a breaking point.
How do you explain the importance of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the world of football, and particularly in France?
France is a country with large Muslim and Jewish communities, which obviously makes it easier to import this war. And above all, football is a sport particularly practiced in neighborhoods, where most of the inhabitants are of Muslim faith and often very demanding on this type of subject.
In your opinion, is there any latent anti-Semitism that results from this?
Why latent? The world of football is increasingly affected by anti-Semitism. The reactions after the tifo affair at the Parc des Princes and the attack this Thursday in Amsterdam are just more examples. I was particularly attacked on the networks by two former players, Jacques Faty and Demba Ba, whose proximity to the Collective against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) is known. [dissous en 2021, NDLR].
Is Bruno Retailleau still right to maintain the meeting between the Blues and Israel at the Stade de France on November 14?
He is in his role. As Minister of the Interior, he wants to show that France does not intend to back down from idiots who want to import the Israeli-Palestinian conflict onto our territory and attack the Jews. Given all the law enforcement that will be deployed, I think and hope that there will be no new incidents. On the other hand, I do not exclude that French players engage in an action, such as not shaking hands with their opponents… To see.
Either way, this match will only be fake. There shouldn’t be more than 20,000 people in the stands, it’s going to be hell to get there because of the security system… And even from a sporting point of view, it’s of no interest. Especially when we see the level of the French team recently and the lack of enthusiasm it generates. Even if I had seats in boxes with a royal feast and they took me there by helicopter, I wouldn’t go.
