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Capello: Montenegro-Russia match should have been canceled after first incident

PODGORICA, March 29. /TASS/. Group G European 2016 Football Cup qualifier between Montenegro and Russia should have been halted instantly after the first major incident that followed seconds after kickoff, the coach of Russia’s national squad, Fabio Capello has said.

He explained that was precisely the kind of decision he and all players had been waiting for. Play should have been discontinued at once, he added.

The referee had to eventually stop the match well into the second half. It happened in the 68th minute, with no goals scored, when an object was hurled at Russia’s defender Dmitry Kambarov from the stands. Shortly before that midfielder Roman Shirokov missed an excellent opportunity to put Russia ahead from the penalty spot.

Misconduct by local fans created problems in the match from the very outset. Seconds after kick-off a flare thrown from the stand hit Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev in the back of his head. The goalkeeper was carried away on stretchers and the referee had to take both teams off the pitch for about 30 minutes. The injured Russian player was taken to a hospital in Podgorica. After a while the referee ruled play must go on.