France and Israel fans fight during match as supporters run away screaming

The Nations League fixture between France and Israel in Paris was marred by scenes inside the stadium, where a number of fans were seen running away from clashes

Fighting between France and Israel fans erupted inside the Stade de France stadium - with football fans force to flee from the chaos.

The fixture between the two countries in the Nations League was marred by the scenes, which seemed to involve a small number of fans, with others seen trying to get away from the clash. It is unclear how the clash inside the stands started. Fans with both French and Israeli flags can be seen running in the footage, while it is understood security guards also clashed with fans.

French police chief Laurent Nunez said in the build-up to Thursday night's match that 4000 police had been deployed at the ground following the fallout of an incident in Amsterdam last week between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The clash occurred around 10 minutes into the fixture in the top section of a stand behind one of the goals. Security were quick on the scene to intervene. A sectator said: "France supporters retreated in the face of an attack by several dozen Israeli supporters. We were in an area of the ground occupied by both sets of supporters, and there was a lot of shouting between the two sides."

It was estimated that only around 20,000 tickets were sold out of a potential 80,000 ahead of the fixture, with buses carrying Israel fans given a police escort to the stadium.

One Israel fan, who asked not to be named, said he was in Paris on an organised visit. He added: "I’ve come along to the game to the enjoy the football, and am sorry there is so much tension between the two sets of supporters. I have no interest in getting involved in fighting in France – there’s plenty going on back home."

Several pro-Palestine protests, attended by hundreds of people, took place in Paris shortly before the match. Inside the stadium, some fans were heard whistling the Israeli anthem as it was played.

Less than 150 Israel fans are thought to have made the trip to France after Israel’s National Security Council warned citizens against attending sporting events, including Thursday night's fixture in Paris, following the events in Amsterdam, which were condemned as antisemitic.

Speaking ahead of the match, French president Emmanuel Macron said: “We will yield nothing to antisemitism anywhere. And violence, including within the French Republic, will never prevail.”

Despite the sparse crowd, tensions remained high, with some flash points between rival fans in the stands during the early stages as security staff moved in to restore order. On the pitch, France were captained by N’Golo Kante in the absence of regular skipper Kylian Mbappe, who was rested by Didier Deschamps.

It was a positive start from Les Bleus, with Kolo Muani darting into the right side of the penalty area before cutting the ball back to Michael Olise, who saw his shot blocked by Israel defender Idan Nachmias. In the 19th minute, Eduardo Camavinga clipped ball into the penalty area, with Muani’s looping header clawed away by Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.

Kante then forced Peretz to make a smart low save from his angled drive after creating space in the left side of the box. Israel came close to a shock lead late in the first half when a free-kick from the right was flicked across the face of goal, but Raz Shlomo could not turn it in at the far post.

France should have broken the deadlock just before the break, but Muani’s angled shot was blocked before PSG forward Bradley Barcola missed his kick as the ball bobbled through the six-yard box. Les Bleus were playing back at the Stade de France for the first time in more than a year, following the Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games.

There was, though, something of a flat atmosphere, given the sparse crowd, with jeers ringing out whenever Israel ventured into the French half. France continued to press, but were confronted by a deep line of five defenders across the edge of the penalty box.

With 20 minutes left, Deschamps made a couple of changes to freshen up the side, with Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku and Adrien Rabiot sent on.

Peretz produced another fine reaction save to parry a close-range effort from Warren Zaire-Emery. In stoppage-time, Marcus Thuram’s header was planted straight at Peretz, who then pushed away Nkunku’s fierce drive as Israel held out for a first point of their Group A2 campaign.