Pro-Palestinian Supporters Stage Protest at French Football Federation over Israel Game

This photograph taken on June 3, 2024, shows logos of the French Football Federation (FFF) during a press conference to announce the pre-selection of the players who will take part in the upcoming training camp of France's men's Olympic football team, at the FFF headquarters in Paris. (AFP)
This photograph taken on June 3, 2024, shows logos of the French Football Federation (FFF) during a press conference to announce the pre-selection of the players who will take part in the upcoming training camp of France's men's Olympic football team, at the FFF headquarters in Paris. (AFP)
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Pro-Palestinian Supporters Stage Protest at French Football Federation over Israel Game

This photograph taken on June 3, 2024, shows logos of the French Football Federation (FFF) during a press conference to announce the pre-selection of the players who will take part in the upcoming training camp of France's men's Olympic football team, at the FFF headquarters in Paris. (AFP)
This photograph taken on June 3, 2024, shows logos of the French Football Federation (FFF) during a press conference to announce the pre-selection of the players who will take part in the upcoming training camp of France's men's Olympic football team, at the FFF headquarters in Paris. (AFP)

Pro-Palestinian supporters staged a protest Monday at the French football federation to call for the cancellation of a Nations League game between France and Israel this month.

Video footage of their action posted on social media and circulating in French media showed protesters inside the federation's headquarters in Paris lying on the floor or holding placards with political slogans and Palestinian flags.

Some protesters also chanted: “No, no, no to the France-Israel game at the Stade de France.”

The French soccer federation did not immediately respond to a request for comments from The Associated Press.

According to local media, the demonstrators were calmly evacuated by police.

French authorities confirmed last month that the match would go ahead with fans allowed in the stadium after Italy hosted Israel in the same competition without incident despite security concerns.

The Nov. 14 match at the Stade de France will be played against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East which has spread to Lebanon after more than a year-long war in Gaza.

Israel's match against Italy was the first match the country has played outside neutral Hungary this year. After the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7 last year, the national soccer team played in Kosovo and Andorra last November.

All Israel matches since then have been in Hungary, including a game against Belgium in the Nations League after the Belgian Football Association refused to host the game for security reasons.



Sydney Marathon Becomes 7th Race in World Majors Series

A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)
A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)
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Sydney Marathon Becomes 7th Race in World Majors Series

A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)
A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)

The Sydney marathon will become the seventh event of the World Marathon Majors series from next year.

World Marathon Majors announced Monday that the Sydney event, which had over 20,000 finishers in its last running in September, had been successful after a three-year candidacy process to join a series of elite events that includes New York, London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo and Chicago in 2025.

Sydney is the first city in the southern hemisphere to be included as a major and its marathon route takes in some of the most historic landmarks in Australia’s biggest city, including the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House.

Kenyan athlete Brimin Misoi and Ethiopia’s Workanesh Gurmesa surged to record-breaking victories at this year's Sydney marathon in September.

The next Sydney marathon will take place on Aug. 31.