'Gay football couple' make headlines in Russia

Two top-tier Russian footballers have been accused of sharing an intimate relationship after their holiday photos emerged online.

Alexander Kokorin, a striker for Dynamo Moscow, and CSKA Moscow midfielder Pavel Mamaev have sparked debate in Russia after their vacation snaps made their way onto social networking site VK.

The images include the pair sharing a bath, hugging and watching a basketball game together.

Kokorin posted a comment on one of the photos, simply saying 'I love him'.

The pictures have emerged just over a week after Russian Premier League champions Zenit St Petersburg released a manifesto stating that they were against the signing of gay or black players ahead of local alternatives.