MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Euro 2016 Group G qualifier between Russia and Montenegro in Podgorica was cancelled after fans launched one more flare attack on the players.
On the first minute of the game which started Friday evening, Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was hit by a flare and brought to a hospital with serious injuries. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport news agency that Akinfeev had received a brain concussion and suffered a burn of neck.
Following the incident, the match was suspended for 40 minutes, while the referee warned that the game would be cancelled in case of a similar attack.
Under the UEFA regulations, Montenegro team can be handed a forfeit defeat for not meeting safety requirements during the game.
