Moscow sends out right message

Anti-racism message
Moscow's Lokomotiv stadium was the venue for the match, which Russia won 5-2. The result was secondary, however, on a night where an anti-racism video featuring Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram and Zé Roberto was broadcast on the stadium screen.

'Need to fight'
The All-Star XI represented the 208 foreign players based in the Premier-Liga. FC Rostov's South African defender, Matthew Booth, said: "Racism problem exists in my native South Africa, in England and in many other countries. It needs to be fought against."

Goalkeepers busy
Russia's busiest players were the goalkeepers, Sergei Ovchinnikov and Veniamin Mandrykin, but their strikers were also in form at the other end. Dmitri Bulykin scored twice, and Roman Pavlyuchenko and Alexander Kerzhakov added a goal each before Booth's own goal made it 5-0. Georgian international Alexander Rekhviashvili and Lithuania striker Robertas Poškus pulled two goals back for the All-Stars.

Thanking the players
FC Krylya Sovetov Samara's Alexander Tarkhanov, one of two coaches in charge of the All-Star side along with Viktor Prokopenko from FC Dinamo Moskva, said: "Such games are always fun to watch, even though most players were still tired from league games at the weekend. We thanked all players who sacrificed their time and energy to participate in this game and promote this anti-racist message."

'Friendly spirit'
Russia coach Valeri Gazzaev said: "It was a great opportunity to play a friendly game. The game was played in a friendly spirit and this is how it is supposed to be. I think the quality of football was high, and the fans were happy to see such an event happen in Russia."