Montenegro Fan Suspected of Flare Incident Apologizes to Russian Goalkeeper

Montenegro football team fan Luka Lazarevich, suspected of throwing a flare at the Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, apologized to the football-player for his behavior, Vijesti newspaper reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On Friday, Euro 2016 Group G qualifier between Russia and Montenegro was suspended after Akinfeev was hit by the flare on the first minute of the game in Podgorica. After a 40-minutes suspension, the game resumed. However, due to the fans' repeated attack, the game was finally canceled.

"Someone lit a flare and threw it next to me. I bent over and instinctively threw it away to the side of the field so that neither I nor standing nearby were not injured. While the flare was flying, I saw that Akinfeev made some steps toward the center of the field and the flare hit his neck and shoulders. I was stunned by the situation, I regret about this and apologize to Akinfeev, the Russian team, our team and the whole country," Lazarevich was quoted as saying by the Montenegro daily Saturday.

The fan's remark was made after Lazarevich surrendered to local police earlier in the day.

On Saturday, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport news agency that Akinfeev had received a brain concussion and suffered a burn of neck.

Meanwhile, Montenegro team can be handed a forfeit defeat for not meeting safety requirements during the game in compliance with the UEFA regulations.