Watch: Russian fan lights flare; not deemed 'crowd disturbance' by UEFA
VIDEO: Russian scores and fan lights flare in stands. Smoke in section. pic.twitter.com/P31A39L4Vu
— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) June 15, 2016
Russia looked to be in a spot of trouble in Euro 2016 as one supporter lit a flare in the stands at Grand Stade Lille Metropole, which some feared violated a "suspended disqualification" issued by UEFA earlier in the week.
The fan lit the flare after Russia scored a late goal to cut Slovakia's lead to 2-1. It drew the ire of Russian journalists in the media room, since UEFA had made it clear that any more fan disturbances would have the country eliminated from the tournament.
A statement from UEFA read: "In accordance with Article 20 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, this disqualification is suspended until the end of the tournament. Such suspension will be lifted if incidents of a similar nature (crowd disturbances) happen inside the stadium at any of the remaining matches of the Russian team during the tournament."
Sam Borden of the New York Times reports the incident appeared to be an isolated, single flare from one supporter, with stewards responding quickly and ejecting him from the stadium.
He then added that UEFA reportedly doesn't see the incident as "crowd disturbance."
UPDATE: @UEFA spokesman tells me that flare in Russian end does not count as "crowd disturbance." Russia presumably safe.
— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) June 15, 2016