Sports fans could be barred from attending events abroad if they were also banned at home, according to an amendment tabled at the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday.
The Seimas intends to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events, and the accompanying legislation.
If passed, the agreement to the Code of Administrative Offenses will allow a court or an official to ban an offender from attending sports events abroad.
The Code currently provides for barring offenders from all public events or a certain type of events – political, cultural or sports – across Lithuania.
On Tuesday, the Seimas is scheduled to vote on the Interior Ministry's proposal to ratify the convention and adopt the necessary amendments which would come into force in 2021.
In November, the Seimas started debating an amendment, tabled by conservative MP Laurynas Kasčiūnas, to provide that only a court and not the police may bar offenders from public events.
Organised support groups for football and basketball teams are pushing for such the amendment, saying police officers can now abuse their powers.
LRT English
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