In the wake of SKA Saint Petersburg’s away win over Avtomobilist, which marked the fourth game of the Gagarin Cup quarterfinals, head coach Roman Rotenberg clarified the decision to proceed with the game the day after the Crocus City Hall incident. The club’s press service in St. Petersburg outlined his reasoning and the team’s mindset during that tense period.
We are soldiers, Rotenberg stated. The league assigns a duty, and the players fulfill it. We do not engage in the negotiations surrounding what to do next. The party announced that an action was necessary, and the Komsomol responded with the same sense of obligation, he said.
The game took place on March 23, with St. Petersburg emerging victorious by a score of 5 to 2. That result narrowed the series deficit to 1-3, with SKA still trailing. The next clash was scheduled for March 25 in Saint Petersburg, with a 19:00 Moscow time start, and anticipation built for another hard-fought battle on home ice.
The dispute between Spartak Moscow and Magnitogorsk Metallurg, the third quarterfinal matchup of the Gagarin Cup, was initially set for March 23 but had to be postponed in light of the Crocus City Hall events. The postponement reflected the seriousness of the day’s trauma and the league’s careful approach to continuing play in the wake of such incidents.
On the evening of March 22, a violent attack occurred at the Crocus City Hall concerts venue in Krasnogorsk. Before the scheduled performance by the touring group, assailants entered the arena and opened fire on spectators. Explosions followed, and a fire broke out. The incident prompted immediate coverage and ongoing updates from broadcasters, as communities processed the shocking breach of safety and the disruption to a major cultural site. The unfolding narrative highlighted the broader impact on fans, teams, and organizers who had prepared for a regular slate of athletic and entertainment events.
Earlier questions have circulated about why the SKA versus Avtomobilist match was not postponed in response to the terrorist attack, underscoring the divided opinions that can accompany decisions of this magnitude. The league and teams faced a delicate balance between preserving the schedule and honoring the emotional and practical needs of players, staff, and supporters who sought clarity in a day of uncertainty. In the end, the decision to play was framed by a commitment to maintain competition while recognizing the gravity of the events that unfolded nearby. [citation needed]