September 14 – As concerns grow about hooliganism at the World Cup, Russian fans are in trouble again after a dangerous flare was fired from the away end in the direction of the referee during Moscow Spartak’s Champions League draw away to Maribor.
Television pictures of the projectile hurtling across the pitch were shown across Europe. It came close to hitting German official Deniz Aytekin in the centre circle.
There had been clashes before kick-off between visiting fans and police and Spartak seem sure to face UEFA sanctions.
Spartak have a history of crowd trouble and were even fined by their own association after racist slogans were displayed on a banner during a domestic game against Arsenal Tula in April 2015.
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