Lithuanian president skeptical about proposals on direct LFF management

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is skeptical about proposals to temporarily introduce direct management of the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF).

The situation will not change with the adoption of a "football rescue" law, he says, adding that Lithuania could be at risk of being excluded from international competitions.

"If our football was run by people who really know football well, it would probably be more beneficial. But to be honest, I don't think that if we go down this road and adopt laws to save football (we will achieve results)," the president told reporters in Klaipeda on Monday.

The poor football situation in Lithuania "precedes the national team" and has to do with the entire training system, Nauseda pointed out, adding that one law would not solve its problems.

"This might lead, and we have many examples of this, to a situation where we will be kicked out of international competitions by international organizations… and then we will live without football, as is the case with Russia now," the president said.

Several lawmakers representing the ruling coalition in Lithuania have on Monday presented a bill they are registering and it's aimed at introducing temporary direct management of the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF).

Vice Minister of Education, Science and Sport Linas Obcarskas says such a decision could be useful in solving the existing problems in the federation's management and in updating the operational model.

However, the vice minister said, "it's necessary to consider the potential negative consequences of such a decision", including the suspension of national teams and the risk of not receiving funds from international federations.

Therefore, the ministry proposes that FIFA and UEFA should be involved in the process

Under the bill, a temporary administrator would be put in charge of the functions of the LFFs governing bodies during the period of the law being in force and the administrator would be appointed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport.

Also, persons who have been convicted of a criminal offense could not be members of the LFF governing bodies, the bill proposes.