Ukraine squad split after controversial clash

Ukraine’s plans for Euro 2016 have been hit by controversy after midfielders Andriy Yarmolenko and Taras Stepanenko clashed during a domestic game.

The pair were sent off when Dynamo Kiev’s Yarmolenko kicked Stepanenko after the Shakhtar Donestk man had kissed his badge and celebrated in front of the opposition fans during his side’s 3-0 win between the two teams on Sunday.

After the match, the Shakhtar man could barely contain his rage and admitted that he no longer wanted to have anything to do with his international team-mate.

He told the club’s official website: “I’d like the whole country to know my friendship with Yarmolenko has ended.”

Oleksandr Kucher was also sent off in the melee, but it is the aforementioned duo who are likely to receive the harshest punishments and their feud could spill over ahead of Euro 2016.

Ukraine have been drawn against Germany, Poland and Northern Ireland in Group C. The Yellow-Blue open their campaign against Germany on June 12 in Lille and are the current 6.50 underdogs to win, with the draw 3.80 and Die Mannschaft priced at 1.50.

Winger Yarmolenko is rated as his country’s star player while defensive midfielder Stepanenko is also expected to play a leading role in France.

Their split may well jeopardise camp harmony, especially with Dymano and Shakhtar likely to provide a number of coach Mykhaylo Fomenko’s final 23-ma squad.

The boss admits the situation could prove to be a huge problem and has vowed to heal the rift. Fomenko said: “We have to sort this out so it does not affect our mission.”