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Criminal case to be opened after flare incident during football game in Moscow

Police have detained three girls, one of whom hurled the flare, which burned the goalkeeper’s cornea

MOSCOW, November 17 (Itar-Tass) —— Police will open a criminal case following a flare incident at a football game between Dynamo Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg in Khimki, Moscow Region, on Saturday, November 17.

During the game one of the fans threw a burning flare at the Dynamo goalkeeper, inflicting injuries upon the athlete.

Police have detained three girls, one of whom hurled the flare, which burned the goalkeeper’s cornea.

The game was stopped 10 minutes before the end of the first half with Dynamo leading 1:0 after someone from among the Zenit fans had thrown a burning flare at Dynamo goalkeeper Anton Shunin, who was hospitalised with a cornea burn.

Shunin may need up to two weeks to recover, doctors at one of the Moscow clinics said.

They said the football player has a cornea, eyelid and conjunctiva burns on both eyes, as well as a post-traumatic otitis of the right ear. They advised Shunin to stay away from training for 10-12 days and to undergo daily medical checkups.

Police detained a total of 92 people, and 38 of them will face administrative penalties for various offences during the game.

Meanwhile, the Russian Football Union’s (RFS) Control and Disciplinary Committee is conducting its own investigation. Its first official results will be announced on Wednesday, November 21, RFS President Nikolai Tolstykh said.

He made no further comments.