Russian football in silence to remember fire victims

MOSCOW: Russia football fans stayed silent for the first halves of matches on Saturday as a tribute to the 64 people who died in a fire at a Siberian shopping mall last Sunday.

The league clubs supporters’ association made the decision before Russia’s friendly match with France at Saint Petersburg on Tuesday. “It was difficult to play the first half,” Spartak Moscow captain Denis Glushakov said after his team’s 2-1 win over Tosno.

“The stands were completely quiet and it was very unusual for our home turf.”

On the pitch, reigning champions Spartak boosted their hopes of retaining the Russian Premier League title as they closed the gap on league leaders Lokomotiv, who suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Amkar Perm. Brazilians Fernando and Luiz Adriano scored as Spartak moved two points adrift of Lokomotiv, who have a game in hand. CSKA Moscow, who face Rostov on Sunday, sit third, six points further back. “The result is the only pleasant thing that should be mentioned when we speak about today’s match,” Spartak coach Massimo Carrera said.