The Moscow club Spartak canceled its planned open training session in Abu Dhabi on Monday after an earthquake warning disrupted the schedule, a development reported by Match TV correspondent Evgeny Zagitov.
According to Zagitov, Spartak had hoped to launch a media day with fresh information and a renewed connection to supporters. Instead, the weather and a seismic alert combined to push the events off the calendar. Heavy overnight rain in Abu Dhabi gave way to a morning earthquake notification rated at 2.8 on the Richter scale. While such a magnitude is generally considered minor and far from dangerous, the timing was enough for Spartak to postpone both the media day and the open training indefinitely. The decision reflected a cautious approach by the club in the face of unpredictable conditions, prioritizing safety and operational clarity for its players and staff.
Spartak’s training camp continued in the United Arab Emirates, with the team competing in two fixtures during the Winline Winter RPL Cup. In those matches, the Muscovites suffered a harsh 0-3 defeat to Rostov, followed by a commanding 5-0 win against Shabab Al-Ahli from the UAE. The results provided mixed signals as the squad regroups ahead of the league’s mid-season pause, underscoring the uneven form and the potential for adjustments as the campaign resumes.
After 18 rounds in the Russian Premier League, Krasnodar had established a winter break lead with 38 points, while Zenit sat two points behind in second place and Dinamo Moscow trailed in third on 32 points. Spartak finished the first portion of the season in fifth position with 30 points, positioning them for a surge in the second half of the campaign as the club seeks to climb the table and rebuild momentum.
Earlier comments from Jikia touched on Spartak’s response to a controversial interview, signaling ongoing media and public relations developments surrounding the team and its leadership. The cluster of events—training disruptions, competitive results, and off-pitch commentary—illustrates how a single incident can ripple through a club’s schedule and narrative as it moves toward the second half of the season.