Russia’s match at Montenegro was abandoned in the 67th minute after the referee stopped play following a second crowd disturbance.
The game was temporarily suspended shortly after kick-off when Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev appeared to be struck by a flare fired from the stands.
The ball went out on the sideline, and when a Russia player went to retrieve it he appeared to be hit by a thrown object, which he showed to referee Deniz Aytekin, who stopped the match a second time.
The match was officially abandoned a few minutes later. A statement on the European organising body’s website read: “UEFA will wait to receive reports from the delegate and referee to open disciplinary proceedings.”
Watch the video here:
Akinfeev was taken to the local hospital in the Montenegrin capital Podgorica, where he was seen on a stretcher and wearing a neck brace. UEFA doctor Slobo Mandic went with Akinfeev and said the goalkeeper was conscious.
“I hope he will be fine,” Mandic said, adding that the brace was put on as a precaution.
Police arrested the Montenegro fan who threw the flare, TASS news agency reported. The stadium announcer said the match would be abandoned if any more crowd trouble occurred, and that promise was eventually fulfilled in the second half.
Akinfeev, 28, is Russia’s first-choice goalkeeper and started at the World Cup in Brazil last summer. During Russia’s match against Algeria, Akinfeev was the target of a laser light shining in his eyes.
