Fans throw flares, explosive on pitch at Euro 2016

By Alex Dowd, Alex Dowd

Published June 17, 2016

Croatia's midfielder Marcelo Brozovic reacts as firefighter extinguish a flare during the Euro 2016 group D football match between Czech Republic and Croatia at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne on June 17, 2016. Czech Republic and Croatia drew 2-2. / AFP / JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK (Photo credit should read JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images)

Security concerns at Euro 2016 in France continued to grow on Friday, after fans in the Croatian section of the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard threw flares and objects on the pitch against Czech Republic. As you can see in this video, one of the objects actually exploded as a steward kneeled to pick it up.

With Croatia on the verge of securing an important 2-1 win against the Czechs, patrons from the Croatia end of the stadium began lobbing flares and an apparent explosive onto the pitch.

A number of players and officials fled to safer grounds, while a handful of Croatian players remained near the commotion and implored the unruly fans to stop. An object landed near Ivan Perisic and exploded as a steward reached to pick it up.

It was a scary scene as the steward tumbled away from the explosion, and Perisic jogged away with his hands to his face. It is unknown if the steward suffered any injuries, as fellow stewards helped lead him off the pitch. Perisic continued to play after order was finally restored.

Soon after play resumed, Croatia wound up conceding a penalty that the Czech Republic converted, and the game ended in a 2-2 draw. The result became secondary, however, following the fan incident.

UEFA are set to open a disciplinary case after the events, but security as a whole remains the larger question. Friday's events are just the latest in a number of issues that UEFA and France have faced hosting Euro 2016.

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