article_snippet.sent: It was certainly the case in April 2005 when a hail of flares rained down from the stands on to the San Siro pitch - flooding the stadium with smoke and forcing German referee Markus Merk to abandon a virulent Champions League quarter-final.
article_snippet.sent: Marco Materazzi and Rui Costa watch on while the match was stopped because of flares thrown on the pitch .
highlights_snippet.sent: Champions League game in 2005 was abandoned due to flares thrown .
  