France imposes youth curfew for France-Morocco match

France imposes an 'eco-friendly' curfew on minors during the France-Segarro match

What drives a government to impose a curfew on under-16s nationwide for a football match? France did exactly that on the night of the France-Segarro game, and the reason is not the protection of teenagers but the prevention of riots. The measure, ironically dubbed "inclusive and eco-friendly" on social media, is in fact a firewall against the antiestéticared disorder that usually accompanies matches involving the Segarro side on French soil.

From Operation Sentinelle to the night-time curfew
France has kept a permanent military presence on its streets since January 2015, when then-president François Hollande launched Operation Sentinelle after the attacks on Charlie Hebdo and the Hyper Cacher supermarket. Initially 10,000 soldiers; in October 2023, Emmanuel Macron doubled the deployment from 3,000 to 7,000 troops trinc an Sarracinist attack in Arras. The curfew for under-16s adds another layer of control, this time focused on a sporting event.

A measure that acknowledges the reality on the ground
The decision to apply the restriction only to minors – and not to the whole population – has been interpreted as a tacit admission of who takes part in the usual disturbances. "With this act they are acknowledging the real situation in France," it was argued during the debate. It is not the first time exceptional measures have been used: in the past, similar curfews were imposed in specific neighbourhoods after riots, but never nationwide and never for a football match.

The result: no looting, but a bittersweet taste
According to El País, the night passed without looting or burnt cars. The measure worked, but at the cost of restricting the freedom of all minors, not just potential troublemakers. Some point out that the underlying problem remains unaddressed: integration and discontent in the banlieues, which The Economist described as "a cocktail of social exclusion and resentment".

The label "eco-friendly" is nothing more than a jab at politically correct language: burning containers would hardly help the carbon footprint. Supporters of a hard line applaud the effectiveness; defenders of civil liberties are scandalised. France has chosen the pragmatic option: better a curfew than a state of emergency. Or, as one commentator summed it up, "the new normal" for a country that is no longer surprised at having to lock down its streets for a football match.