MOSCOW, November 17 (R-Sport) - Dynamo Moscow’s home game against Zenit St. Petersburg has been called off after Dynamo goalkeeper Anton Shunin was hit by a missile thrown from the stands.
What appeared to be a pyrotechnic hit or landed near Shunin on 36 minutes, and the smoke seemed to irritate the goalkeeper’s eyes.
Referee Alexei Nikolaev led the players off after a discussion with the coaches of both teams.
Russian Premier League executive director Sergei Cheban said the match had been called off.
"A football pitch isn't a warzone," he said in televised comments, adding that the FA would decide the winner. "It's the prerogative of the disciplinary committee and they'll make a decision."
Dynamo were leading 1-0 thanks to a Vladimir Grant goal.
It is unclear what action the FA might take: It is possible Dynamo will be awarded the win if Zenit fans are found to have transgressed, although, perversely, Dynamo could be punished for failing to arrange for the protection of players.
Rival fans scuffled at a Moscow train station ahead of the game. No injuries or arrests were reported.
The Russian government is currently trying to push through legislation aimed at stamping out football hooliganism.
The last Russian match to be called off due to hooliganism was Dynamo's Russian Cup clash with Torpedo Moscow in September. That game was abandoned due to flares being thrown onto the pitch.
Torpedo, playing at home, were handed a 3-0 loss by default, and ordered to play the next three home games behind closed doors, and both clubs received small fines.
