Rome, November 17 - Italy was left reflecting on both on-field and off-field matters after the national team lost their perfect record under coach Antonio Conte when they drew 1-1 with Croatia at Milan's San Siro Stadium on Sunday in a trouble-hit Euro 2016 qualifier.

Showers of flares thrown on the pitch by Croatians caused the action to be interrupted twice, with the second suspension of play in the second-half lasting over 10 minutes.

There were skirmishes between police and Croatia fans inside the stadium and reports of stewards being attacked.

Members of the 5,000-strong contingent of Croatia fans were also involved in violence outside the ground after the game, with police getting pelted with objects, and 16 people were arrested. "I apologised to Italy on the pitch and now I'm saying sorry to everyone," said Croatia coach Niko Kovac.

"What happened with our fans is not acceptable. Our people are not like this".

The Croatian football association is likely to be hit hardest by any punishment European soccer's governing body UEFA hands out for the ugly scenes.

But the incident also raised questions about how the Italian authorities handle such games, as it is not unprecedented. In 2010 a Euro 2012 qualifier in Genoa was abandoned due to rioting by visiting fans and in 2005 a Champions League match between AC Milan and Inter Milan at San Siro was abandoned when Inter fans threw flares onto the field.

"Those who manage and organise these games must make use of this experience," said Giovanni Malagò, the head of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). "Why is it that these things only happen in football? "The Croatian football association are clearly indirectly responsible, but we must also reflect on how it was possible to throw these flares on the pitch". Milan police chief Luigi Savina told State broadcaster RAI on Monday that it was hard to stop fans getting into the ground with "flares of two or three centimetres that can easily be hidden". Conte also has some reflecting to do after a draw that flattered Italy, as the classy Croatians dominated for long spells.

Italy took the lead on 11 minutes when midfielder Antonio Candreva drove into the bottom corner from outside the box.

But Croatia's Ivan Perisic leveled four minutes later with the help of a blunder by Azzurri keeper Gianluigi Buffon, who allowed the shot to go under his body.

Italy and Croatia share the top spot of Euro 2016 qualifying Group H with 10 points apiece, one more than third-placed Norway. "Despite difficult moments, my players showed commitment against a very strong team," said former Juventus boss Conte, who took over the national team following Cesare Prandelli's departure after their poor World Cup in Brazil.

"We can improve a lot. Our first aim is to qualify. At the same time, we have to build the new Italy by improving our technical qualities".

Conte's men face Albania in a friendly on Tuesday. The game is scheduled to go ahead in Genoa despite the wave of deadly extreme weather that has caused devastation in the Ligurian capital and other parts of northern Italy.