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Russian CSKA Fans Get Violent After Champions League Match in Rome

CSKA Moscow's Dmitri Efremov (2nd L) leaves the pitch with his teammates after the match against AS Roma in their Champions League Group E soccer match at Olympic Stadium in Rome September 17, 2014.

A Champions League match between Roma and CSKA Moscow was briefly suspended in the second half due to fan violence that led to the hospitalizations of at least two people Wednesday.

With Roma leading 5-0 in the second half, CSKA supporters began throwing flares at Roma fans and fighting with stewards, forcing riot police to intervene.

The match was stopped for about two minutes for police to take over from stadium officials.

The clashes continued between fans after the match, which CSKA lost 5-1. A CSKA fan was stabbed in the abdomen and another was hit in the head with a bottle, according to Italian newspaper Ansa. Both men were taken to a nearby hospital though their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, the report added.

According to AGI, an Italian news agency, 15 CSKA fans were taken to a police station following the match. Another Italian television station, Calcio Fanpage, said that one CSKA fan had been arrested after hitting a stadium steward during the brawl, Interfax reported.

CSKA is likely to be punished by the governing body of UEFA for this latest incident. CSKA have already been forced to play their upcoming Champions League match against Bayern behind closed doors after its supporters displayed racist and far-right symbols during a 2-1 loss to Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic during last season's Champions League.

CSKA was also fined $65,000 after being warned for racist fan abuse during a home game against Manchester City last October.

(MT, Reuters)

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