A 2016 European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was abandoned on Tuesday after scuffles among players and fans on the pitch over a banner featuring an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone.
English referee Martin Atkinson interrupted the match in the 41st minute when Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic managed to grab the banner and Albania players tried to protect it. Several Serbian fans invaded the pitch and clashed with Albania players.
The Group I match was later abandoned "due to a disturbance on the pitch," according to UEFA, with the score at 0-0.
"The Euro 2016 Qualifying match between Serbia and Albania has been abandoned and the circumstances will be reported to the UEFA Disciplinary Body," European football's ruling body said in a statement.
Albanian fans had been warned against attending the game between the two Balkan rival nations that have had turbulent relations — mainly over the former ethnic Albanian-dominated Serbian province of Kosovo that declared independence in 2008.
"We wanted to continue the match, but Albanian players said they were not psychologically ready," Serbia captain Branislav Ivanovic said.
Both Serbian and Albanian fans have a long history of violence and racial abuse. In October 2010, the Italy-Serbia European Championship qualifier was disrupted in Genoa by violent Serbia fans. UEFA eventually awarded Italy a 3-0 win.
On Tuesday, the Albanian anthem was loudly jeered by Serbian fans and derogatory chanting was heard throughout the first half. Serbian supporters also threw flares at the pitch.
The drone, clearly visible in the lights of the stadium, made a series of passes above the pitch.
The banner displayed an Albanian flag and a map of so-called "Greater Albania," an area that comprises territory within today's Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and northern Greece.
The banner also portrayed two Albanian nationalist leaders — Ismail Qemali, who declared Albania's independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 and Isa Boletini, an Albanian fighter against the Turks.
Fearing trouble, hundreds of riot police were deployed inside and outside the Partizan stadium in Belgrade. Dozens of Albanian fans, mostly from Kosovo and Montenegro, apparently managed to get inside despite warnings by Serbian security officials that they would be arrested if they carry Albanian symbols.
On his Twitter page, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama congratulated Albanian players for their courage before the match was abandoned and added that he was "sorry for the neighbours who left a bad worldwide image with the ugly show."
Thousands of Albanian fans who followed the match on a big screen in Tirana headed for the airport in the Albanian capital to welcome the players arriving from Belgrade.
After the match, Albanian Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri sent a letter to his Serbian counterpart expressing concerns for the security of the Albania players, team staff, journalists and a few fans.
The minister asked for "urgent steps to guarantee the security of all Albanian citizens present in the stadium."
Cristiano Ronaldo scored in injury time to give Portugal a 1-0 win over Denmark in a tense Euro 2016 qualifier in Group I.
Portugal, which was recovering from a shock 1-0 home loss to Albania on Sunday, made the better start in Copenhagen. But the home team had the best chance of the first half when a shot by Denmark striker Michael Krohn-Dehli hit the post.
Ronaldo headed home in the 94th minute following a shot from Ricardo Quaresma, crushing Danes hopes of a draw.
Group D
John O'Shea scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to give Ireland a 1-1 draw with Germany, as the World Cup holders suffered another setback in their 2016 European Championship campaign.
Toni Kroos scored in the second half to put Germany ahead as it sought to bounce back from a loss to Poland.
Kroos hammered home a low drive in the 71st minute with what was then Germany's 17th shot. Ireland only had managed one until then, but O'Shea's late strike stunned Joachim Loew's team.
In Warsaw, Poland drew 2-2 with Scotland to remain top of Group D on goal difference over Ireland, while Georgia won 3-0 at Gibraltar.
Poland and Ireland have seven points from three matches, while Germany and Scotland have four each.
Group F
Northern Ireland continued its surprise run in Euro 2016 qualifying by beating Greece 2-0 for its third straight win in Group F.
Jamie Ward fired in a corner kick taken by Oliver Norwood in the ninth minute, with the ball crossing the line after a slight deflection off Greece defender Loukas Vyntra.
Kyle Lafferty scored the second after a solo run six minutes into the second half at Karaiskaki Stadium. He has now scored in all three of his country's group matches.
The injury-plagued Greeks had their best chance in the first half with Nikos Karelis, who misplaced his lob for the 2004 European champions.
In Tuesday's other Group F games, Hungary won 1-0 in the Faeroe Islands while Romania beat Finland 2-0 in Helsinki.
Group E
Switzerland earned its first points in European Championship qualifying on Tuesday with a 4-0 win at San Marino.
Frankfurt forward Haris Seferovic scored in the 10th and 24th minutes, Galatasaray midfielder Blerim Dzemaili added another on the half-hour mark, and Xherdan Shaqiri completed the scoring in the 79th.
Also, San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncelli stopped a penalty from Ricardo Rodriguez in the final minute.
Switzerland moved level with Estonia and Slovenia with three points each in Group E, which England and Lithuania lead with six points each.
San Marino, ranked 208th by FIFA, remained last with zero points.
Switzerland, which reached the Round of 16 at the World Cup in Brazil, lost to England and Slovenia in its opening qualifiers.
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