Stepanenko: My friendship with Yarmolenko is over
Ukraine may have some troubles ahead of Euro 2016 after a clash between Taras Stepanenko and Andriy Yarmolenko.
Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Taras Stepanenko declared his friendship with Ukraine team-mate Andriy Yarmolenko over after ugly scenes in his side's win over Dynamo Kiev.
Yarmolenko kicked out at Stepanenko after a goal celebration in Shakhtar's 3-0 win in the Ukrainian Premier League on Monday.
Both players were sent off after a scuffle between the teams, with Yarmolenko having earlier committed a crude challenge on the 26-year-old.
Stepanenko said he was no longer friends with Yarmolenko, putting Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko in a tricky position ahead of Euro 2016.
"As for the incident at the end of the match... Lviv is currently considered to be our home ground, I just showed the crest of my team," he said.
"No signs, no bad words. Then I calmly ran to my goal, being hit once, two times, three times.
"I have not seen them, but they say it was Andriy Yarmolenko. Say a big hello to him!
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"I think that my friendship with him is over after this incident. I forgot about it for the sake of the national team.
"But in this particular case, had it been my standing leg, he would have simply broken my knee cap.
"So I am saying without emotion and officially: my friendship with the man is over."
Ukraine have been drawn in a tough Group C for the European Championship, taking on Germany, Poland and Northern Ireland.