Crowd trouble forced the Montenegro versus Russia Euro 2016 qualifier to be abandoned midway through the second half.

The game was first delayed by 33 minutes when Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was hit on the head by a flare thrown from the Montenegro section of the ground soon after kickoff.

Midway through the second half a scuffle ensued between players near the touchline, with Eastern Europe's Sport Klub television reporting that a missile hurled from the terraces appeared to have hit another Russian player.

Montenegro coach Branko Brnovic said his players were distraught and apologised to their stunned Russian visitors.

"I apologise to the Russian players and staff for everything that's happened. It is no surprise that the game was abandoned after the second incident," he told Montenegrin state television broadcaster RTCG.

"My players are completely distraught, all of them are at a loss for words and I also don't know what to say after all this.

"We now don't stand a chance (of qualifying) and also face a lengthy crowd ban,' he added, with Russia and Montenegro level on five points from four games behind group leaders Austria, who have 13 from five, and Sweden on nine from five."