The atmosphere at the stadium was clearly tense on Thursday, with reports of a brief altercation between a small number of fans in the stands early in the game.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Paris on Thursday ahead of a soccer match between France and Israel. Authorities were on high alert following violence in Amsterdam before and after a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

By Julien Pretot PARIS (Reuters) -France qualified for the quarter-finals of the Nations League despite a lacklustre goalless draw against Israel on Thursday in front of a record low crowd at the Stade de France due to security fears around the game.