Spartak Moscow face being punished by UEFA after one of their supporters launched a firecracker which flew into the centre circle and almost hit the referee during their 1-1 draw against Maribor.
The match — in Liverpool’s Group E — was briefly suspended after the flare was fired around 50 yards from the away end into the crowded centre of the pitch.
It landed metres away from referee Deniz Aytekin near the halfway line but fortunately neither he nor any of the players were hit.
Spartak Moscow supporters let off flares in the away end during their 1-1 draw with Maribor
One was fired from the stands onto the pitch during Wednesday’s Champions League clash
The flare flew all the way to the centre circle, narrowly avoiding German referee Deniz Aytekin
Fans had earlier clashed with each other and police before the game, which finished a draw thanks to two second-half goals.
Damjan Bohar rescued a point for the home side five minutes from time after Aleksandr Samedov had put Spartak ahead on the hour mark.
Elsewhere Napoli were beaten 2-1 by Shakhtar Donetsk on a night of Champions League action that saw an incredible 26 goals scored across eight matches.
Aleksandr Samedov put the away side in front on the hour but they were pegged back late on
Goals from Taison and Facundo Ferreyra put the Ukrainian side into a two-goal lead with 32 minutes to play before Arkadiusz Milik halved the deficit for the Italian side from the penalty spot.
In Group G, meanwhile, Besiktas downed Porto to begin their campaign with three points.
Ex-Liverpool forward Ryan Babel scored late on as the Turkish side won 3-1 in Portugal. Dusko Tosic’s own goal had cancelled out Talisca’s opener for the visitors. But Cenk Tosun and Babel scored either side of half time to secure victory and top spot in Group G.
Forward Taison (right) netted for Shakhtar Donetsk as they beat Napoli 2-1 in Group F
Ex-Liverpool forward Ryan Babel (right) scored late on as Besiktas beat Porto 3-1