Lokomotiv midfielder Dmitry Tarasov on Tuesday stoked tensions after a Europa League clash between the Moscow club and Turkish giants Fenerbahce by revealing a T-shirt praising President Vladimir Putin underneath his club strip.

The first-leg clash in the round of 32 of the Europa League was the most significant sporting encounter involving the two countries since Turkey's shooting down of a Russian plane on the Syrian border on November 24 caused a diplomatic crisis unprecedented since the Cold War. To the joy of home fans, Fenerbahce won the match 2-0 but the attention of the Turkish media focussed on the behaviour of Tarasov after the final whistle. He stripped off his Lokomotiv shirt to reveal a picture of Putin in military gear with the slogan "the most polite president".