There was a brief altercation between a small number of fans early into Thursday's Nations League soccer game between France and Israel despite heavy security inside the stadium, a week after violence erupted in Amsterdam in connection with an Israeli club team’s visit.

Israeli and French fans engaged in a brief skirmish on Thursday night at Stade de France, where vigilant police presence helped contain the clash.

After the recent violence around an Israeli team’s game in Amsterdam, French leaders insisted on proceeding under security with a France-Israel match, and on showing up, themselves.

A brief scuffle broke out in the stands as Israeli soccer fans returned to Europe, but a heavy security presence in Paris ensured there was no repeat of the large-scale violence seen in Amsterdam last week.

Some football fans attending the European Nations League match in Paris between France and Israel whistled and booed as the Israeli anthem played at the start of the game. Thursday's match was played in front of scant crowds and heavy security a week after violence in Amsterdam between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and visiting Israeli fans.

Crowds were thin and security was heavy at the Stade de France for Les Bleus' Nations League game against Israel on Thursday after violence in Amsterdam last week around a Europa League match involving Maccabi Tel Aviv.

France UEFA Nations League game brought boos for the Israeli national anthem, and fights broke out in the stands at Stade de France.