Although this Saturday and the next few matches of “Dainava” in the A League will be held without spectators, as the disciplinary commission of the federation decided so, football is of great interest to sports fans. It was actively demonstrated by the people of Alyty on Monday, when the people of Dainaviški played a meeting of the cup tournament, and the fans were admitted to it. In this “Savaitgali” – reader Tom’s thoughts about one of the most popular events in the capital of Dzūkija – football, and a comment from “Dainava”.
After the unfulfilled wish of “Dzūki tanks” to solemnly start the football season in Alytus with a procession, this Monday the fans could enjoy the opportunity to see their city’s football team playing. The fans also “rejoiced” with an average 50 percent increase in ticket prices and with the stadium scoreboard operating by the same percentage. As one prominent Alytus football expert informed, the ticket prices were increased due to the fact that the “Dainavas” team promises to improve their game by the same percentage this season and take no lower than fourth place in the standings of the football A League. A very welcome goal, and the fans promise to fill the stands even more.
However, after watching Monday’s match against the Kaunas FC “Hegelmann” team, we want to wish “Dainavai” to significantly improve the quality of the game, because with such a game, not only can you not take a higher place than last season, but you may have to fight only for survival in the A League.
In general, Lithuanian football is in a very deep hole. The Lithuanian national team is only in the thirteenth place in the world football ranking. And how can the level of football rise if, according to the competition regulations of the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF), at least 3 citizens of the Republic of Lithuania must play on the field at all times as part of the Lithuanian football’s highest A League team? Most likely, the heads of the federation are convinced that you can become a good football player not only by playing on the field, but also remotely, sitting on the bench. By the way, according to the regulations, the club must pay the registration fee approved by the LFF VK for each player who is not a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania registered in the team application. One gets the impression that the LFF is interested in registering as many foreigners as possible in the Lithuanian Football A League, rather than Lithuanians.
Proposal to “Dzūki tanks”: “stop fighting with fans of other clubs, because only LFF gets rich from that too (3 thousand 500 EUR after the incident in Šiauliai). Rather, organize a friendly march with fans of other clubs to the LFF and demand that it take care not only of filling its coffers, but of resurrecting Lithuanian football from the dead.
Reader Tomas (last name is known by the editors)
Dzūkija football club “Dainava” answer
“We want to mention that the organizers of the football season procession in Alytus were the Alytus football club “Dainava”, which invited all football-loving fans and townspeople to the procession. We wanted to have a big celebration in the city, but we could not do it due to the decision of the LFF Appeal Committee. We have not increased ticket prices since 2019. Due to inflation, it is time to adjust them, although we understand that raising prices is not attractive to everyone. Compared to the matches of other teams, the prices are average and the ticket for the matches held in the stadium is not divided into sectors, the spectators can choose a comfortable seat.
We are also the only club that does not have the opportunity to play at home for most of the season and every trip to a stadium in another city costs an extra few thousand euros. We are happy that, despite various factors, there was strong support from the fans in the LFF Cup match this Monday and we hope that this will inspire the team for better results in the A-League championship”, – reads the comment sent to “Alytus nyusiemens”.
