Poland striker Robert Lewandowski was involved in a potentially dangerous incident during his country's World Cup qualifier clash with Romania on Friday night after a flare thrown to the pitch by the home fans exploded just a few metres away from him.
The Bayern Munich hitman was back defending a corner when the flare was thrown into the six yard box by the fans behind the Polish goal, leading to several of Lewandowski's teammates, including himself, to alert the referee and demand the game be stopped.
Lewandowski nearly hit by a firecracker. Poor behaviour from the Romanian fans. pic.twitter.com/XJDRphZrZT
However, just before the referee called a momentary halt on proceedings, the flare appeared to explode next to the 28-year-old's feet, sending the player to the ground clutching his ears, which sparked his countrymen to rush to his side and put out the flare.
The game was then stopped for 10 minutes while Lewandowski received medical attention in Bucharest, and then carried on without any further incident, but this was just one of a few troubling incidents that occurred earlier on in the match, which ended 3-0 in Poland's favour.
Another flare had been thrown on to the roof of the goal net early on in the half, burning a hole in it, while a wild and out-of-control fight broke out up in the stands between both sets of opposing fans, which saw six supporters arrested.
The Romanian FAwill be waiting anxiously to discover whether they will receive any retrospective punishment for the lack of control and safety given to both sets of players and supporters.