Russian, Ukrainian clubs cancel football friendly

Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — A football friendly between Spartak Moscow and Dynamo Kiev has been called off because of the political tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Spartak Moscow said on its official website Friday that the game, which was scheduled for July 24 to inaugurate the opening of the Russian team's new stadium, has been cancelled.

Spartak says it was a "joint decision" prompted by "force-majeure circumstances."

Dynamo Kiev's president was earlier quoted as saying it would be inappropriate to play Spartak at this moment.

The two countries have been at loggerheads since February when months-long opposition rallies culminated in the Ukrainian president leaving the country and a new government stepping in. Russia has since annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

Spartak now has to find another team for the inaugural game.