IFA faces punishment after photographer hit by firework

The IFA is facing a disciplinary case after a firework was thrown at Windsor Park

The Irish Football Association hopes it will escape with a warning after a photographer was hit on the neck by a firework during Northern Ireland's 0-0 draw with Romania on Saturday.

Darren Kidd needed medical assistance next to the Windsor Park pitch.

"I would not expect the punishment to be significant, especially for a first incident of this kind," IFA president Jim Shaw told the Belfast Telegraph.

Uefa has begun an investigation following the second-half incident.

Kidd, meanwhile, has written on Twitter that he was "very lucky" but "burnt", "sore" and "deaf".

The photographer, who works for the Press Eye agency, added: "Don't want to think what would have happened if I hadn't got it off my neck.

The Polish Football Association was fined £18,000 after supporters released fireworks during their qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin earlier this year.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Federation has also been cited this week for a similar offence.

"We have a good record and it may even be a case of being given a warning rather than a fine," said Shaw.

"The only other incident we have had was when a linesman was hit by a coin thrown from the stand against Poland and that was six years ago."

He added: "Overall, things went well. The stadium looked great and the atmosphere was very good."

The result of Saturday's European Championship qualifier leaves Northern Ireland second in Group F, a point behind Romania and two in front of Hungary with four games remaining.