Serbia and Albania are both facing the possibility of being sanctioned by Uefa after their Euro 2016 qualifier was abandoned on Tuesday night in bizarre circumstances.
Their encounter was initially halted just before half-time by a drone trailing a pro-Albania banner hovering over the the Partizan Stadium pitch. However, the incident erupted after Serbia defender Stefan Mitrović brought down the flag, which seemed to upset a number of Albanian players and a melee involving some players from both sets of teams occurred.
It forced English referee Martin Atkinson to lead the teams off the field, as disruption in the stands threatened to boil over, with objects being thrown onto the pitch at Albanian players in the wake of the chaos.
A fight breaks out on the pitch between Serbian fans and Albanian players
Uefa is likely to take a dim view of the controversial incident and match delegate Hari Bin confirmed the governing body will investigate what happened in Belgrade.
Quoted by Serbian media, including the popular Sportske website, he said: ''You saw what happened and at this point I cannot speculate further as to who was responsible and accountable. Uefa will take further steps on the basis of the official report.''
Serbia v Albania
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Serbia's midfielder Nemanja Gudelj (L) holds a flag with Albanian national symbols pulled down by Serbia's defender Stefan Mitrovic (C) from a remotely operated drone flown over the pitch during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(02 of39)
A Serbian national team supporter, left, attacks members of the Albanian national soccer team during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag banner that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(03 of39)
A drone flies over the Partizan stadium during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. A European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(04 of39)
Serbian riot police try to contain Serbian supporters after a fight on the pitch broke out during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania, at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(05 of39)
Serbia's Stefan Mitrovic grabs a drone which was flying a banner containing the Albanian flag during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The match was suspended. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A drone with an Albanian flag flies over Partizan stadium during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The match was suspended in the 41st minute. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(07 of39)
A skirmish between Serbian and Albanian players breaks out on the pitch during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(08 of39)
A drone with an Albanian flag flies over Partizan stadium during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(09 of39)
Albania's Bekim Balaj, left, and Serbia's Nenad Tomovic, fight over a flag banner that was suspended by a drone during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The 2016 European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was abandoned on Tuesday after skirmishes broke out on the pitch involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(10 of39)
Albania's players leave the pitch during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania, at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The match was suspended after 41 minutes at 0-0. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(11 of39)
Serbia's and Albania's players clash during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania, at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The 2016 European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was abandoned on Tuesday after skirmishes broke out on the pitch involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(12 of39)
Dick Advocaat, Serbia's head coach, right, and Serbia's Branislav Ivanovic leave the pitch during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(13 of39)
Ivan Bogdanov, left, jailed over a disruption of an Euro 2012 qualifier in Genoa, Italy in 2010, and others invade the pitch during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(14 of39)
Serbia's Branislav Ivanovic bows his head while leaving the pitch during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(15 of39)
Serbian national football team supporters light a flare during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag banner that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(16 of39)
Serbian national team supporters clash with members of the riot police during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Serbia's Stefan Mitrovic, left, catches a flag with Albanian symbols suspended over the Partizan stadium from a drone during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag symbol with the legend autochthonous, that was flown above the stadium by a drone. The match score was 0-0 at the time. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A drone with an Albanian flag banner flies over Partizan stadium during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The match was abandoned. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Serbia's players leave from pitch after the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania, at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(20 of39)
Serbia's players leave from pitch after the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania, at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was suspended on Tuesday after pitch skirmishes involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Serbia Albania Euro Soccer(21 of39)
Serbian riot police officer detains a soccer fan during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania, at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014.(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Serbia's head coach Dick Nicolaas Advocaat leaves the field after the EURO 2016 group I qualifying football match Serbia vs Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ALEXA STANKOVIC (Photo credit should read ALEXA STANKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ALEXA STANKOVIC via Getty Images)
Serbia-Albania match abandoned after drone sparks violent brawl(23 of39)
BELGRADE, SERBIA - OCTOBER 14: Serbian police secure supporters of Serbian national soccer players during brawl between players on the pitch during the UEFA EURO 2016 group I qualifying soccer match between Serbia and Albania is abandoned in Belgrade, Serbia on October 14, 2014. Match officials abandon Tuesday's Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania after a drone carrying an Albanian flag entered the stadium late in the first half and sparked a brawl between players and fans. (Photo by Medin Halilovic/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Serbia-Albania match abandoned after drone sparks violent brawl(24 of39)
BELGRADE, SERBIA - OCTOBER 14: Serbian police secure supporters of Serbian national soccer players during brawl between players on the pitch during the UEFA EURO 2016 group I qualifying soccer match between Serbia and Albania is abandoned in Belgrade, Serbia on October 14, 2014. Match officials abandon Tuesday's Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania after a drone carrying an Albanian flag entered the stadium late in the first half and sparked a brawl between players and fans. (Photo by Medin Halilovic/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Serbia-Albania match abandoned after drone sparks violent brawl(25 of39)
BELGRADE, SERBIA - OCTOBER 14: A flag with Albanian national symbols attached to a remotely operated drone flies in the stadium during brawl between players on the pitch during the UEFA EURO 2016 group I qualifying soccer match between Serbia and Albania is abandoned in Belgrade, Serbia on October 14, 2014. Match officials abandon Tuesday's Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania after a drone carrying an Albanian flag entered the stadium late in the first half and sparked a brawl between players and fans. (Photo by Medin Halilovic/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Serbia-Albania match abandoned after drone sparks violent brawl(26 of39)
BELGRADE, SERBIA - OCTOBER 14: Serbian police secure supporters of Serbian national soccer players during brawl between players on the pitch during the UEFA EURO 2016 group I qualifying soccer match between Serbia and Albania is abandoned in Belgrade, Serbia on October 14, 2014. Match officials abandon Tuesday's Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania after a drone carrying an Albanian flag entered the stadium late in the first half and sparked a brawl between players and fans. (Photo by Medin Halilovic/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Albania's players look at Serbia's defender Stefan Mitrovic grabbing a flag with Albanian national symbols from remotely operated drone flown over the pitch during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ALEXA STANKOVIC (Photo credit should read ALEXA STANKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ALEXA STANKOVIC via Getty Images)
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Albania's players run for cover during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ALEXA STANKOVIC (Photo credit should read ALEXA STANKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ALEXA STANKOVIC via Getty Images)
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Serbian riot police scuffles with angry Serbian supporters during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ALEXA STANKOVIC (Photo credit should read ALEXA STANKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ALEXA STANKOVIC via Getty Images)
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Albania's players run for cover during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ALEXA STANKOVIC (Photo credit should read ALEXA STANKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ALEXA STANKOVIC via Getty Images)
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Serbia's players acknowledge supporters after the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)
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A masked Serbian supporter pulls a drone after a flag with Albanian national symbols was flown over the pitch and pulled down by Serbia's players during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)
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Serbia's Nemanja Gudelj (L) scuffles with midfielder Albania's midfielder Bekim Balaj (C) and defender Andi Lila (R) over a flag with Albanian national symbols pulled down from a remotely operated drone flown over the pitch during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)
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A flag with Albanian national symbols attached to a remotely operated drone flies in the stadium during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)
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A flag with Albanian national symbols attached to a remotely operated drone flies in the stadium during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)
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Serbia's defender Stefan Mitrovic grabs a flag with Albanian national symbols flown by a remotely operated drone during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)
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Serbia's defender Stefan Mitrovic grabs a flag with Albanian national symbols from remotely operated drone flown over the pitch during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)
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Serbia's and Albania's players scuffle over a flag with Albanian national symbols pulled down by Serbia's defender Stefan Mitrovic (3rd R) from a remotely operated drone flown over the pitch during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)
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Serbia's defender Stefan Mitrovic grabs a flag with Albanian national symbols flown by a remotely operated drone during the EURO 2016 group I football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on October 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LOUISA GOULIAMAKI via Getty Images)
Albanian supporters had been banned from entering the stadium by Uefa on safety grounds and the match was set against a backdrop of tight security.
Tensions have never been far from the surface between the nations over Kosovo, the province with which both countries share a disputed border and is recognised as independent by the United States and major European Union countries but not by Serbia - a bone of contention with Albania.