What happened
The Moscow derby, also known as the All Rus’ Derby, between Spartak and CSKA is famed for its intensity. Recently, the clashes between the teams have taken on a scandalous tone. In the first round, a 2:2 draw saw head coaches Guillermo Abascal and Vladimir Fedotov clash in a heated exchange.
The following day, the second round at the Otkritie Bank Arena was even more charged. With the win, CSKA clinched silver in the league table, while the draw favored Spartak’s red and blue rivals. Spartak secured a 2:1 victory, closing the gap to just one point with two rounds remaining.
Abascal’s squad rose to the occasion in dramatic fashion. A determined performance culminated in a late penalty that looked controversial and was awarded after a VAR review. Igor Akinfeev parried Quincy Promes’ shot, but the rebound was finished by a Spartak attacker. The sequence kept the drama high and underscored the derby’s stakes.
The most talked-about moment involved the red and white striker Alexander Sobolev and CSKA defender Willian Roshi, who both received red cards after a tense exchange. Throughout the match, the two engaged in several clashes, and at a point in the game while Sobolev appeared to taunt Roshi, the Spartak player made a provocative gesture. Roshi immediately alerted the ball-judge, highlighting Sobolev’s actions. The on-field official meted out a red card to both players, a decision reviewed by the head referee Sergey Karasev.
The incident occurred when the score stood at 1:1, and after the final whistle, Sobolev’s conduct and Karasev’s decisive actions sparked intense discussion across the football community.
“Sobolev’s action does not conform to Spartak’s values”
Rosha stated in a post-match interview that the derby atmosphere provoked his response and that Sobolev’s behavior warranted scrutiny. He noted that after the incident, Sobolev was sent off and described the moment as a test of character, underscoring the need for respect in football. Spartak’s head coach Abascal addressed the matter at the post-match press conference, criticizing Sobolev’s conduct.
Abascal insisted Sobolev would face consequences, emphasizing that values like respect and education matter and that the sport is a team game. He recalled a prior disciplinary moment involving Promes against Roshi and suggested that such issues had been reviewed by officials during that match as well.
The club’s communications director, Kirill Breido, announced on the team’s Telegram channel that the club would forward concerns to the Expert Referee Commission of the Russian Football Union. The message called for transparency regarding sanctions and for the RFU to publish referee deliberations in a new format so the public could understand the decisions more clearly.
Breido also noted that responsibility for behavior lies with club leadership, fans, and league bodies rather than any single team, indicating a broader call for accountability in the derby’s conduct.
Roman Babaev, Spartak’s general director, told TASS that the RFU Control and Disciplinary Board should review the incident given its emotional intensity and the apparent repeat of problematic behavior. Sobolev later posted on his Telegram channel an initial apology for his actions, expressing regret for his conduct and acknowledging that supporters, including women and children, were watching. He pledged that such behavior would not recur. The summary of the reaction from Promes’ derby, as described by the match reporter, highlighted the emotional second half and the lingering tension that followed, while noting that Sobolev did not receive a red card that game and stressing the importance of avoiding further dismissals.
In follow-up reporting, the pair of Sobolev and Roshi remained under scrutiny as the league prepared for further disciplinary steps. Officials indicated that decisions could have broader implications for future matches in the championship and potential penalties in the following season. The derby’s aftermath also touched on Sobolev’s prior ban from cup action and the potential impact on Spartak’s lineup in upcoming fixtures against Zenit and other rivals. Roshi’s actions were described as provocative, with commentators suggesting that the episode would be reviewed thoroughly by authorities.
Entering the final rounds, CSKA was slated to visit Krasnodar and host Rostov, while Spartak prepared to play at home against Pari NN and travel to Samara to face Wings of the Soviets. The outcome of these matches, combined with potential disciplinary measures against Sobolev and Roshi, held significance for the silver race and could influence early-season momentum for both clubs.