"Russian football" has suffered a heavy loss (PHOTO)

So-called "Russian footballers" have been left without "winter" red balls due to the withdrawal of the main sports brands, local propagandists report, citing official RPL information.

An explanation had to be given after participants in the match between Spartak and Baltika in Kaliningrad were forced to play in the snow with a standardised ball that was not visible on the TV broadcast.

The league's press office explained that the clubs had voted to use balls from Nike, which had been purchased through parallel (without the manufacturer's consent) imports. But Nike does not produce red balls for free sale and makes them only to order.