Paris, 25 October 2022

Last 14 September, Paris Saint Germain was hosted by Maccabi Haifa in the Sammy Ofer Stadium.

Today, 25 October, the return match was held in the Parc-des-Princes Paris Stadium.

Posters by the “BDS-France” campaigners had appeared with the wording: “PSG match against Maccabi Haifa in Champions League next 25 October at Parc des Princes... #SPORTWASHING... Israeli Apartheid Is No Magic! BDS (Boycott Israel).”

One thousand police and Gendarmes were posted in and around the stadium, expecting a level 3 to 5 “high risk” for Israeli and Jewish fans, based on the experience of previous sport events. Heightened vigilance and police protection was needed.

The PSG “right wing pro-‘Palestine’ Ultras” decided to boycott the event as BDS-ers. Boycotting Israel was a flop.

The 1,650 Israeli supporters were exuberant and, even losing 2 to 7, their defeat was compensated by watching the football stars Messi, Neymar and M’Bappé.

The Israelis enjoyed Paris safely, accompanied by undercover agents, but vigilance will still be required until their departure.

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Shimon Samuels, stated: “We will watch for antisemitism not only on the football pitch, but across France.”

* * *

For further information, contact Shimon Samuels at csweurope@gmail.com
Please leave us your comments on https://twitter.com/wiesenthaleuro1