Rostov cancels training session in Turkey

Russian Premier League club Rostov canceled their plans to set up their January training camp in Turkey, the club's deputy president, Alexander Shikunov, said yesterday. "We were planning to set up our January training camp in Turkey but decided to change this idea in connection with the latest events," ITAR-TASS news agency quoted Shikunov as saying. Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday backed a recommendation from the foreign ministry for Russians not to visit Turkey after the shooting down of a Russian fighter jet by Ankara. In recent years, Turkey has been very popular with Russian clubs who have held their training camps there ahead of the season's restart from the winter break. "Many of the Russian clubs are currently seeking new bases for their training camps," Shikunov added. "We also decided that it's better to be overcautious in such a situation." Another Premier League club Amkar Perm were also considering changing their training camp location from Turkey, the club's executive manager, Denis Maslov, said. "We wanted to hold three practice sessions in Turkey in the winter but [as] the international climate has changed, we are considering whether to choose Spain or Israel for our training camp," Maslov told R-Sport agency.