Dynamo Kiev refuses to play Spartak Moscow exhibition match

Russia-Ukraine tensions lead to cancellation of match in Moscow

Russian soccer club Spartak Moscow and Ukrainian counterpart Dynamo Kiev have canceled an exhibition match organized to celebrate the opening of the newly built Spartak stadium on July 24.

Dynamo has refused to come to Moscow because of the political crisis between Russia and Ukraine. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated due to Crimea’s annexation by Russia.

"The breaking of the earlier agreement between the clubs has been caused by the current state of political relations between Ukraine and Russia, to which extent FC Dynamo (Kiev) considers going to the match in Moscow to be inappropriate," Dynamo’s official website reports.

The decision about who will be Spartak's first rival in the new arena is still pending.

First published in Russian in Vedomosti.ru

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