Russian Premier League team Rostov are to play against English side Portsmouth next month to raise money for the families of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team that was wiped out in a plane crash, Rostov’s director told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
The game is to be played at Fratton Park on October 5, Rostov’s General Director Yury Belous said, adding the idea was proposed by Portsmouth co-owner and president Roman Dubov.
Lokomotiv's chartered Yak-42 crashed just after takeoff on September 7 as the team was heading to Minsk for their season opener against Dinamo Minsk. Forty-four people were killed including a slew of former NHL stars and future draft prospects.
The Hungarian-born Dubov confirmed the news on his website. He has a 10 percent stake in the club, while compatriot Vladimir Antonov owns 85 percent.
“Dubov got in touch with the offer. We went along with it with pleasure,” Belous said. “All the proceeds from the match will go to the hockey players’ families.”
