PARIS: French Prime Minister Michel Barnier and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy are set to attend a highly controversial football match between France and Israel this Thursday in Paris. The event has sparked significant debate due to Israel's ongoing conflicts with Palestinians and Lebanon, resulting in substantial loss of life, as reported by local media. According to Anadolu Agency, Barnier and Sarkozy will be joined by President Emmanuel Macron at the UEFA Nations League match, which will take place at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, a suburb in northern Paris. The match is being held under tight security measures, with Paris police chief Laurent Nunez flagging a 'high risk' due to the tense geopolitical situation. Approximately 4,000 police officers will be on duty to ensure safety during the event. Despite the high-profile attendance and security measures, ticket sales for the match have been disappointing, with only 20,000 out of 80,000 available seats sold, as reported by RMC Sport. The match has faced criticism from advocacy groups, including the Stop Genocide collective, which demanded its cancellation during a meeting with the French Football Federation (FFF). Activists had previously staged a protest at the FFF headquarters, expressing their discontent. The FFF acknowledged the public's concerns and reported that they had shared their apprehensions about the match with UEFA and French authorities from the beginning. However, the FFF emphasized that the decision to hold the match was out of their control, as UEFA is the sole decision-maker in this matter. The French government has opposed relocating the match, arguing that doing so would be conceding to threats of violence and antisemitism. In preparation for the event, security measures include deploying 4,000 law enforcement personnel in Paris and Saint-Denis, with the French elite riot police, CRS, on duty to maintain order. The Israeli national team's accommodations will also be under police surveillance.