Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon's 1,000th career game

Italy's 2-0 win over Albania was held up for eight minutes after visiting fans repeatedly threw flares and smoke bombs on to the pitch.

Italy - in goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon's 1,000th career game - were leading through Daniele de Rossi's penalty when referee Slavko Vincic took the players off the pitch.

Albania's Italian manager Gianni de Biasi said: "I was really upset with the throwing of the fireworks.

"I never thought I'd see that."

Flares were first thrown on to the pitch as De Rossi waited to take a penalty but it was in the second half when the players were forced from the field.

An announcement was made at Palermo's Renzo Barbera stadium warning fans their team could face sanctions if they continued and it had to be repeated, but that only sparked the lighting of more flares.

Thirty-nine-year-old Buffon - who played in his 168th Italy game, making him the most capped European player - had to leave his goalmouth.

One firework exploded near to a steward and he was taken away for assessment, though he was not injured. Albania captain Ansi Agolli appealed to the fans before play resumed.

"I saw a different side to the Albanian fans, something I hadn't seen in my years here," said De Biasi.

"I was struck and pained to see those scenes."