During the match in Panevėžys, the “South-IV” fans chanted the words:
“For the city, for the club, for the country / For Lithuania without foreigners.”
Such words from “Žalgiris” fans did not go unnoticed, and PFA shared a statement on their “Facebook” page, stating that this chant is offensive.
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“Such words are not just an innocent chant,” the association wrote on their “Facebook” page. “They directly affect foreign citizens playing football in Lithuania and can certainly be understood as a discriminatory message based on national origin. PFA Lithuania believes that appropriate sanctions should be imposed and responsible persons identified.”
The association reminded that disqualifications and hefty fines are provided for in points 42.1, 42.4, and 42.5 of the Disciplinary Code.
- Point 42.1: For discriminatory or offensive words and actions, at least a 10-match disqualification and a fine of at least 1,000 euros are provided.
- Point 42.2: For a discriminatory offense committed by fans, the club faces a fine of at least 1,000 euros, and stricter sanctions may be imposed on the team – matches without spectators, point deductions, or even expulsion from the competition.
- Point 42.3: For such an offense, a spectator may be banned from entering the stadium for at least two years.
“PFA Lithuania condemns any discriminatory chants in Lithuanian football stadiums. Football should be a place where players are valued for their sporting abilities, not their nationality, national or other origin. We have no doubt that if such a chant were heard during a UEFA match, the club would face a significant financial penalty,” the association concluded the statement.
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The famous national comedian Paulius Ambrazevičius also reacted to this. He shared his opinion on his “Facebook” page.
“I tried to sketch how the eleven of that match would look without foreigners, when this season they scored 32/37 goals in the Top League and 14/14 goals in Europe,” the comedian reasoned.
The “South-IV” stand itself also shared a post about the match on their “Facebook” page, but the mentioned chant was not mentioned there.
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