Spain entered the Olympic men's basketball semi final on Wednesday night by beating France 66-59 in a bad-tempered game that almost broke into an ugly brawl between the teams with referees intervening to avert fight.

The unsportsmanlike behavior of the France team towards the end of the game not only marred the spirit of the game but also let the Spanish consolidate their win in the closely contested quarter final game.

"Nobody likes to lose in the quarter-final of the Olympics," Spain's Marc Gasol told Reuters. "Everybody wants to fight for those medals. Sometimes it gets a little out of hand because emotions get involved. Nobody got hurt, that's the most important thing."

Back-to-back fouls from France's Ronny Turiaf and Nicolas Batum almost led to a big brawl between the teams. The officials of the game had to push the players of both the teams apart to avert clash. Free throws were conceded to Spain for the fouls and the total score 66-59.

[PHOTOS OF QUARTER FINAL GAME BETWEEN SPAIN AND FRANCE]

With only a couple of minutes to go before the final time and Spain leading, frustrated Ronny Turiaf knocked down Rudy Fernandez near the sideline, for which free throws were conceded.

As if that was not ugly enough, Batum hit Juan-Carlos Navarro of Spain below the waist in the closing seconds of the game, knocking him to the floor. It looked like an intentional foul but he got away with only free throws.

In fact, the two teams almost got into a brawl after the second foul if not for the timely intervention by the referees. The final score was 66-59 in favour of Spain when the final whistle went off.

Spain will now meet Russia in the semi final.

[PHOTOS OF QUARTER FINAL GAME BETWEEN SPAIN AND FRANCE]

(With Inputs from Reuters) 

France's Batum is held back by officals after a hard foul in his game against Spain at their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's head coach Scariolo reacts during game against France at their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Officials try to separate the players of Spain and France after a hard foul by France's Batum during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's head coach Scariolo reacts during game against France at their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's Gasol reacts to making a basket against France during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's Llull dunks over France's Turiaf during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's Rodriguez shoots over France's Traore during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

France's Parker is guarded by Spain's Gasol and Calderon during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's Gasol is guarded by France's Pietrus during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

France's Pietrus goes in for a lay-up past Spain's Gasol brothers during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

France's Parker shoots over Spain's Calderon during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

France's Traore is guarded by Spain's Ibaka during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's Gasol react to being called for a foul against France during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's Rodriguez has the ball stripped away by France's de Colo and Parker during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's Gasol is guarded by France's Seraphin during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's Calderon guards France's Parker during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

France's Parker is guarded by Spain's Gasol during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's Calderon goes in for a lay-up between France's Turiaf and Diaw during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

France's Parker is guarded by Spain's Gasol during their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Spain's Gasol hugs France's Parker as France's Turiaf watches after their men's quarterfinal basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games