Balaclava-clad hooligans disrupt UEFA Champions League qualifying match in Ukraine

Dnipro supporters appear to attack FC Copenhagen fans as referee Andre Marriner halted the match for 15 minutes

Danish side FC Copenhagen were held on to a goalless draw against FC Dnipro Dnepropetrovsk in the first leg of the third round of qualifying matches for the 2014-15 Uefa Champions League in Ukraine, but the highlight of the match happened off the pitch and in the stands.

In the middle of the match, a group of young Ukranian troublemakers--- some sporting balaclavas--- decided to riot in the sparsely filled stadium, presumably to add some excitement to an otherwise frustrating match. A torrent of aggressive fans was seen suddenly running towards the metal fence to scale it and accosting the clueless yellow flap-jacketed ground staff.

Danish sources claim that fans in the away section were attacked as well in the half-time break. While this has not been confirmed yet, a man has been caught on film stealing FC Copenhagen flags hung around the stadium. Referee Andrew Marriner stopped the game for 15 minutes, for which duration the players were cooped up in respective dressing rooms, but the match restarted when order was restored.

FC Copenhagen’s official twitter feed informed that there have been no serious injury to their fans.

Update på FCK.DK om situationen i Kiev, hvor ingen heldigvis er kommet alvorligt til skade. http://t.co/Q6DcCoN81Q

— F.C. København (@FCKobenhavn) July 30, 2014

The incident is a reflection of the atmosphere of crisis prevailing in Ukraine currently. A representative of Dnipro fans who gave his name as Vlad in an interview with local TV broadcaster 2+2, accused Danish supporters of sparking the fighting by waving a Russian flag.

“I would like to apologise for this incident. It was some sort of a provocation. The Danish fans demonstrated the flag of the neighboring country, that is why we saw the brawl. The incident was inflammatory because of politics,” he said.

Uefa had earlier insisted that the game be played in Ukraine despite political turmoil in the country, but the match was shifted to Kiev from the more troubled eastern region where Dnipro is based. FC Copenhagen have issued an official letter of complaint to Uefa but have refrained from comment till after an official investigation. It will be interesting to follow Uefa’s actions in this delicate affair involving troubled nationalistic sentiments.