Fans' flare hits home bench in Hanover

The firework was one of several fired by visiting Wolfsburg fans from the away team's block at Hanover's HDI Arena before Tuesday's German league game, but no one was hurt as kick-off was delayed by a few minutes.

Light flares are a common sighting in the German Bundesliga.

The German FA is expected to hand out hefty fines to both clubs after a flare fired from the Wolfsburg's fan block hit the Hanover bench on Tuesday.

The firework was one of several fired by visiting Wolfsburg fans from the away team's block at Hanover's HDI Arena before Tuesday's German league game, but no one was hurt as kick-off was delayed by a few minutes.

"This is obviously something that we condemn vehemently," Wolfsburg's director of sport Klaus Allofs told Sky .

"I do not think that was deliberately aimed towards the Hanover bench, but we can only apologise.

"We normally have no problems with our fans, so we were surprised."

This is not the first time the use of pyrotechnics has marred a Bundesliga match between the north German neighbours.

In December 2014, Wolfsburg fans fired four flares and set off a smoke bomb in the away section of Hanover's stadium.

Both clubs were fined 6,000 euros ($6,500) at the time.

Wolfsburg hosts Gent in the last 16, second-leg of the Champions League next Tuesday having won the first leg 3-2 in Belgium.