Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was hit on the head by a flare in the first minute of their Euro 2016 Group G qualifier away to Montenegro on Friday forcing the match to be suspended.
Akinfeev appeared to be seriously injured and was wheeled off the pitch on a stretcher as German referee Deniz Aytekin ordered the teams back to the dressing rooms.
Friday 27 March 2015
Montenegro vs Russia suspended after goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev hit by a flare and carried off less than a minute into qualifier
The match between Montenegro and Russia had to be suspended after Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was hit by a flare just seconds into the game in Podgorica.
The lit flare was thrown from behind the goal - a place occupied by Montenegro's supporters - during the Group G fixture, and appeared to strike Akinfeev in the back of the head approximately 20 seconds after kickoff, causing him to fall to the floor.
He was then carried off the pitch on a stretcher, as German referee Deniz Aytekin stopped the game and ushered the other players away.
