Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency on the 85th anniversary of the Spartak sports society, Moscow, April 17, 2020

Question: What does Spartak mean to you? How long have you been its fan?

Sergey Lavrov: To me, Spartak is more than a team; it’s something that helps me balance my mind even during the most challenging talks. Spartak has been my favourite team as long as I can remember. When I was a first-grader, I lived with my grandparents in Noginsk, and the local Spartak stadium was located near our building. I’ve been a football fan ever since and I still play regularly.

As I said, to me, Spartak is like Motherland – it is not something you choose.

Question: Do you have any memorable stories related to Spartak? Or do you believe in superstitions, some good signs that say that your favourite team will win?

Sergey Lavrov: I am a veteran football lover to this day. Honestly, I really miss football now that you cannot watch matches or play yourself.

Whenever Spartak plays in a tournament, I can’t wait to watch the game. If I am in Moscow, I try to attend the match, or simply sit glued to the TV screen regardless of the time zone.

I don’t know about any superstitions, but a friend of mine says that Spartak’s chances go down if I attend the match.

Question: What role do you choose for yourself on the field and in life: defender or forward?

Sergey Lavrov: I believe that the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy both roles, to always see your goal and navigate towards it with maximum efficiency.