Russian football teams snub Turkey for UAE's Abu Dhabi

The Russian embassy in the UAE has confirmed that some of the country's top football teams will spend the winter season training in Abu Dhabi rather than Turkey.

Russian premier league teams were initially planning on spending the winter break in Turkey, but recent tensions between the two countries have pushed the Russian football union into backing Moscow's unofficial boycott of all things Turkish.

Frictions have been high since Turkey shot down a Russian war plane from the Kremlin's Syrian intervention force after it reportedly briefly entered Turkish airspace.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan refused to apologise, leading to a war of words with President Vladimir Putin - and unofficial sanctions.

Russia's decision to cancel a football training camp in Turkey appears to be the latest manifestation of the diplomatic ruckus between the two countries.

Media reports suggest that the Russian football union and the ministry of sports "advised" clubs who were due to arrive in Turkey for their winter training season in January to cancel their plans as a sign of solidarity with the country's leadership.

Abu Dhabi was chosen as an alternative location, which was confirmed by the embassy on Twitter.

The Russian premier league hosts some of the most successful teams in European football including Locomotiv, Spartak and CSKA from the capital.

Players take a three-month break during the freezing Russian winters between mid-December and March.

Teams often decamp to warmer climes, with Spain, Cyprus and Turkey being popular choices.

Russia will hold the World Cup in 2018 but has been criticised by various bodies and supporters' clubs for endemic racism in football grounds, as well as allegations of corruption in the bidding process for the sport's biggest tournament.