Zenit fans reach nadir: Moscow match stopped after assault on keeper (PHOTOS)

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Published time: November 17, 2012 13:10
Edited time: November 18, 2012 00:13

The referees have aborted Zenit’s game at Dynamo Moscow after the St Pete fans hit opposing keeper Anton Shunin with a flare.

­Shunin fell down after the cracker, which came from the Zenit stands, exploded in front of his face in the 37th minute of play.

The injured player was lying on the grass, while the visiting supporters continued to throw foreign objects at him.

Shunin was treated by the doctors, who said the Russian international was blinded by the explosion and couldn’t see with one eye.

After consultations with his assistants and Premier League officials, referee, Aleksey Nikolaev, decided to abort the match at Khimki Arena in Moscow Region.

When the game was stopped Dynamo were 1-0 up, thanks to Vladimir Granta’s free-kick in the 27th minute.

The medical check at the hospital revealed that Shunin suffered a chemical burn of  his corneas, eyelids and conjunctivas of both eyes as well as post-traumatic otitis of the right ear with partial hearing loss.

The keeper, who was part of Russia’s squad at Euro 2012, won’t be able to return to training for at least ten days.

The police are already in possession of a video footage, which shows that the flare was thrown by a young woman. In all 92 people were detained after the match, with three female fans among them.

The League is yet to decide whether the remainder of the match will be played on another date or Zenit will be handed a technical defeat.

­“If the football community wants to avoid such things in the future, the Control and Disciplinary Committees’ decision on the matter should be really tough, but not be limited to a usual fine,” Gennady Soloviev, Dynamo president, told Sportbox.ru. “As the result of this particular match, according to Dynamo’s official position, Zenit should be handed out a technical loss.”

Meanwhile, Zenit’s general director, Maksim Mitrofanov, believes that the incident is entirely Dynamo’s fault.

“It should be noted that the organizer of this event was FC Dynamo,” he stressed. “It was the club who sold tickets and is responsible for the organization of the match, including the inspection of those who enter the stadium. There’s no evidence that the person who threw a flare at Anton Shunin was a Zenit fan.”

Mitrofanov also threatened that Zenit may withdraw from the championship if the football authorities come up with an unfair ruling on the incident.

Referee asks Dynamo keeper, Anton Shunin, of his condition. (RIA Novosti / Alexey Filippov)

Anton Shunin treated by Dynamo doctors. (RIA Novosti / Vladimir Fedorenko)

Raging Zenit fans at Khimki Arena in Moscow Region. (RIA Novosti / Alexey Filippov)

Zenit players Konstantin Zyrianov and Aleksandr Kerzhakov react as ref’s decides to stop the game. (RIA Novosti / Alexey Filippov)