If the Lithuanian parliament adopts a proposed law on the introduction of temporary direct management of the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF), the country’s national teams and football clubs would face suspension from FIFA and UEFA-organised tournaments.
Moreover, the LFF could see the suspension of all its powers as a FIFA and UEFA member, as well as the termination of FIFA and UEFA’s financial assistance to Lithuanian football.
On Thursday, LFF President Tomas Danilevičius said the federation was warned about these consequences in a letter from FIFA.
In the letter, FIFA pointed out that in the case of the introduction of direct management, “the LFF would be in breach of its obligation under the FIFA Statutes and the UEFA Statutes to manage its affairs independently and with no undue influence from third parties”.
“The international football organisations informed LFF representatives last night that the interference of some Lithuanian politicians in the activities of an independent football federation is unequivocally regarded as a violation of the FIFA and UEFA Statutes provisions, and that it will lead to direct negative consequences for the whole of Lithuanian football,” Danilevičius was quoted as saying in the LFF’s statement.
Earlier this week, 82 Lithuanian lawmakers registered a special bill on the introduction of the LFF’s direct management.
Under the bill, a temporary administrator would be put in charge of the functions of the LFF’s governing bodies during the period of the law being in force. The administrator would be appointed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport.
Read more: In move against ‘criminal world’, Lithuanian MPs seek FIFA to manage national football federation
The administrator would carry out a financial and operational audit of the federation and, within three months of the law’s entry into force, draw up and approve the LFF’s draft interim statutes.
Under the bill, the draft provisional statutes should also include a clause on each LFF member having an equal number of votes at the federation conference.
Moreover, the bill proposes making national football clubs members of the federation. Currently, they are represented through regional associations.
In addition, the LFF conference would get the powers of electing the federation’s president, vice presidents, and the Executive Committee. The latter currently consists of persons delegated by the LFF members.
Also, persons who have been convicted of a criminal offence could not be members of the LFF governing bodies, the bill proposes.
In recent years, the LFF has been criticised for poor sports results, as well as some of its officials having links to the criminal world.
Lithuania currently ranks 142nd in the FIFA ranking, which is its worst result ever.
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