Dynamo Kyiv-Spartak Moscow Friendly Called Off
Friday, 4th April, 2014 Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kyiv have pulled out of a friendly against Russian side Spartak Moscow as a result of the rising tensions between the two countries.
Both Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in political turmoil for some time with the relations souring even further after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
The match was scheduled to be played at the newly built Otkritie Arena in Moscow on 24th July, but it will not now go ahead.
It was only officially revealed on Friday that the match has been cancelled due to the rising tensions between the two former Soviet Union nations.
“Dynamo Kyiv football club have officially withdrawn from the friendly against FC Spartak Moscow which was to become the opening match at the Russian side new arena”, an official statement by Dynamo Kyiv revealed.
“Taking into account current political relationship between Ukraine and Russia, FC Dynamo Kyiv consider the trip to Moscow to be inappropriate.”
The two sides fought together in the Soviet Top League before the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Later the league was disbanded and it was only in 2008 that the two sides met in the Champions League.
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