ISTANBUL / Ahmed Hassan / Anadolu

French authorities have tightened security measures, fearing disturbances and riots after the France-Morocco match in the World Cup quarter-finals in Boston, USA, on Thursday, whether in celebration or protest over the result.

According to the local newspaper 'Le Parisien', more than 20,000 police officers have been deployed across France, with about 8,000 of them allocated to monitor the French capital alone.

The plan includes strengthening the security presence on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, imposing traffic restrictions, closing a number of metro stations, as well as aerial surveillance using drones.

These security arrangements come after France has already experienced violent incidents following important matches of Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team, regardless of the result.

Security experts and sociologists agree that major sporting events attract huge crowds who come out to celebrate, but they may also attract opportunistic groups who exploit the chaos to commit robberies, cause damage, or clash with security forces.

The last example of this goes back to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where authorities classified the semi-final match between France and Morocco, held on December 14, as a high-risk match due to the large size of the Moroccan community in France and the symbolic rivalry between the two countries.

A large-scale security operation was deployed that day, involving about 10,000 police and gendarmes across France, including about 5,000 elements stationed in the Greater Paris region, according to the French Interior Ministry.

Despite the intensive security presence, that night ended with the arrest of more than 266 people across the country, most on charges of public disorder, throwing objects, setting fire to street furniture, and clashing with police.

The incidents were particularly concentrated on the Champs-Élysées and other areas of the capital, with disturbances also occurring in cities such as Lyon, Montpellier, and Nice, so this incident became one of the main reasons for tightening security measures whenever France hosts an important international match or its national team plays a decisive match.

France and Morocco are competing for a place in the semi-finals at the Boston stadium in the United States, and while the players of both teams seek to secure a spot among the top four teams in the tournament, French authorities are fighting a completely different battle.