Russian national sports teams to travel to Turkey to take part in official competitions - sports minister
MOSCOW. Dec 15 (Interfax) - Russian national teams should not skip official competitions held in Turkish territory, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said.
"As concerns national teams, we won't allow such things. Our national futsal team has just returned from Turkey [where a 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifier took place], and there were no incidents or problems, although the guys were really nervous, and we had to be firmer in bringing up the security issue," Mutko said.
While Russian clubs and teams should take part in official competitions held in Turkey, provided the observance of proper security measures, they should hold training at different locations, he said.
He also suggested that Russian volleyball clubs did the wrong thing by refusing to go to Turkey to play Champions League matches.
"The volleyball clubs did the wrong thing by not going to Turkey. The Turkish side is capable of providing security," Mutko said.
Belogorye Belgorod and Dynamo Moscow did not go to Turkey to play against Arkas Spor Izmir and Ziraat Bankasi Ankara in Champions League games on December 1 and December 2 respectively, for which they will be punished by default losses.