Russian cup match between Zenit and Spartak sees six red cards and punches in brawl

The game was taking place during the World Cup with Russian national and club teams banned from FIFA and UEFA competitions due to the country's invasion of Ukraine.

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Despite all eyes being focused on Qatar, league leaders Zenit and Spartak grabbed the headlines for all the wrong reasons as they battled in a cup clash.

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The two sides won't play again until March as Russia enters its winter break with Zenit six points clear of Spartak in their Premier League, but they left their mark in more ways than one.

With a cup meeting ending 0-0 in normal time, a coming together between Zenit's Wilmar Barrios and former Netherlands winger Quincy Promes quickly turned nasty.

Referee Vladimir Moskalev struggled to break up a shoving match before Zenit's Brazilian defender Rodrigao started attempting to kick his opponent.

That saw a flood of players intervene, with Rodrigao being punched in the face as the bench flew onto the pitch.

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Spartak substitute Alexander Sobolev then jumped into action as if it was a boxing match, as coaching staff and bundles of players appeared on the pitch.

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The referee had already begun dishing out red cards as the chaos began to subside, with Barrios, Rodrgio and former Barcelona man Malcom sent off for Zenit, while Spartako trio Sobolev, Shamar Nicholson and Aleksandr Selikhov receiving their marching orders too.

Spartak's match report of the game said: "The fight still happened. It all started with the junction of Promes with Barrios, as well as the exchange of blows by the same Rodrigao and Nicholson.

"And this time much more desperate. Everyone fought, including substitutes and staff. As a result, after a long pause, Moskalev removed this 'couple', as well as Sobolev, Malcolm, Barrios and Selikhov, who took a particularly active part in the events."

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While all of this was happening, the only player missing from the tie due to the World Cup, Zenit's Dejan Lovren, was lacing up his boots for Croatia getting ready to beat Canada 4-1.

Despite the unsavoury scenes, the game was able to resume for a decisive penalty shootout, with Zenit's Brazilian goalkeeper Ivan the hero, saving two penalties to win the match.