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Reproach without delving into circumstances
Shortly after the match with Spain, the Lithuanian national team and the accompanying delegation were taken to the airport to fly home. Unfortunately, this couldn't be done because the plane broke down. The Lithuanian press is buzzing with articles blaming the federation for this, but let's think, couldn't it happen to anyone? Couldn't the same thing happen to the Spanish delegation? The only difference might be that our delegation used the cheaper services of a Russian company, while the Spaniards in such a situation would have ordered a plane suitable for them and flown home, because for them it's not about the money. Each of their players has million-dollar contracts, there are numerous training grounds in every city, while in our country there are only a few, which means the federation has hundreds of times more funds than the LFF.
Such situations unite
Initially, there was tension at Valencia airport. This is understandable, as the players were tired, the fans of the national team, mostly businessmen planning the next day, families with small children eager to return home. But later, when it became clear that we wouldn't fly out until after noon, everyone seemed to come together. Both the Lithuanian national and youth teams, as well as LFF officials, did not have private rooms or lounges. They, like any other ordinary person, waited for the long-promised flight home. Perhaps for some, it's hard to understand that the team slept on waiting room benches, but in such a situation when you're not in the city but at the airport waiting area, there is no other choice. To return to the hotel, you need to retrieve your luggage, which is in the airport storage, you need to book at least two hotels in a very short time, which is actually impossible, and worst of all, you don't know when that fateful plane will arrive. LFF leaders understood this very well, so without complaining, they waited in the lounge along with all the other people.
The tired team raised the spirits of those around them
Although tired, the Lithuanian football team tried to lift the spirits of the smallest participants of the trip. Edgaras and Deividas Česnauskiai played football with their three young children in the waiting room. These experiences should not be forgotten by the children. Meanwhile, other members of the national and youth teams sang Lithuanian songs, which made the tired faces of other people turn into smiles.
Footballers are also people
After waiting for more than 12 hours in the waiting room, the footballers also started to feel tired. Some rested by sleeping, others had a cup of coffee or a beer. In our country, there is a belief that an athlete is a different kind of person than all of us. According to this belief, an athlete must be abstinent. But aren't people who give their all on the field, creating such a football spectacle (even though they lost 1-0), entitled to relax? According to some footballers, falling asleep on a plane, bus, airport after a match is extremely difficult because before the match you immerse yourself in football, and it's very difficult to come back to reality after the battle. LFF officials are also burdened with no less responsibility because they are responsible for ensuring that everything goes according to the pre-planned schedule, and when something goes wrong, they are the ones blamed without delving into why something happened one way or another. Therefore, it is understandable when they try to relax with alcohol.
Spaniards watched everything calmly
During this day spent at Valencia airport, we, Lithuanians, were supposed to be deeply entrenched in the memory of the Spaniards not as bad, disruptive vandals, but as ordinary people just wanting to fly home as soon as possible. As midnight approached and it was confirmed that we were indeed flying out, some Spanish tourists began to clap and smile, happy that we were finally going home.
LFF made efforts to return as soon as possible
Many Lithuanian newspapers criticize LFF officials, saying that besides emptying the bar, they did nothing more until then. Upon learning that the Russian plane would not fly us home, ways to fly home as quickly as possible were immediately sought. Since only Russian companies have such large planes capable of relatively cheaply carrying about 190 people, other solutions were explored. L. Varanavičius called both Lithuanian and Latvian airlines, but they offered planes with only 150 seats. This meant that about 50 people would have to stay in Valencia. So, the President of LFF made a logical decision. He offered the wealthiest participants of the trip to fly home on other flights for 600-900 euros. Let's admit that this amount is not big for Lithuanian businessmen. However, only six people took advantage of this offer, so we had to wait for the Russian plane, promised to have 190 seats. When it arrived, we had to wait about 4 more hours for refueling and inspection of the plane. In the last hour, LFF officials sat by the window from which the plane was visible. Some called the responsible people for the aircraft, while others, like L. Varanavičius, asked themselves, "Why did this happen? Why is everything taking so long?". The faces of the people were clearly worried.
Photographs and video material were misappropriated
While waiting patiently at the airport, photos and video material were taken for personal archives. Since the digital camera was not enough for the material, everything was transferred to N. Kesminas's personal computer, with the condition that these images would not be distributed anywhere and that they would remain only in the archive of the photographer. Unfortunately, the photographer was deceived, and upon reaching Lithuania, all the material was started to be distributed everywhere. Initially, it was given to the daily newspaper "Lietuvos rytas", which at the request of the editor-in-chief G. Vainauskas, gave the filmed material without the author's permission to the affiliated newspaper "Ekstra žinios".
Personally, I, Augustinas Pakulis, an administrator of EuroFootball.com, sincerely apologize for this incident, for the people who are only concerned about personal gain and money, and have no concern for Lithuania and its people. I apologize to the LFF and personally to L. Varanavičius, who allowed me to go on this trip, so that I could inform you, dear Lithuanian football fans, of the hottest news from Spain. I hope my sent articles allowed you to get at least a small picture of the trip. Many Lithuanian newspapers claim that the LFF has no concern for Lithuanian football, but the chief editors of these newspapers should first ask themselves this question. When posting filmed footage on the internet and photographs in newspapers, do you think about how you are harming the image of Lithuanian football? I think you don't think about it, because you are only concerned about making money from a sensational article and you are even worse than the LFF that you criticize.
Personally, I, Augustinas Pakulis, am stepping down from my position as an administrator of EuroFootball.com indefinitely, because I believe that this is one way I can atone for part of my guilt for the misappropriation of photographs and video material from me. EuroFootball.com hopes that in the future, its reputation will not be tarnished, because, unlike some other media, we are truly concerned about football, not money.
