The price football will collectively pay for failing to stamp out hooliganism was clear for all to see in Saint-Etienne on Friday, where a brilliant Croatia side were denied a deserved victory by the disgraceful actions of a violent minority.
The match at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard should have served notice of Croatia's potential to challenge for the Henri Delaunay Cup, as they took a 2-0 lead against Czech Republic thanks to excellent goals from Ivan Perisic and Ivan Rakitic.
Instead the game will be remembered for the crowd trouble that marred the second half, when, their team having conceded to Milan Skoda, a number of Croatia's supporters rained flares down onto the pitch, forcing Mark Clattenburg to suspend play.
A firefighter could have been seriously injured when, as he sought to clear the objects, one exploded, sending him sprawling to the turf holding his face.
Piling further shame on the actions of a group Croatia coach Ante Cacic right labelled "sports terrorists" is the role they played in ruining what should have been cathartic victory for the squad, who played brilliantly as they sought to honour the memory of the fathers of captain Darijo Srna and goalkeeping coach Marjan Mrmic, who passed away in the week before the game.
Even should they escape sanction and avoid further sabotage from the stands, Cacic must face the reality of his team's reliance on Luka Modric, who was taken off as a precaution due to tiredness and muscle tightness just past the hour mark.
And the Real Madrid star's absence after the violent interruption, while hardly the defining aspect of Croatia's collapse, left them less able to resist the late Czech charge.
Keeping Modric fit and firing will be crucial to Croatia's hopes, but priority number one for all concerned - particularly UEFA and the French police - must be to ensure no further major instances of crowd trouble ruin what is threatening to become one of the most hostile major tournaments in living memory.
