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The Lithuanian football community joins the FIFA "Fair Play" initiative and invites players, referees, fans, and all people in the country to adhere to the principles of fair play and respect for others. In Lithuania, the "Fair Play" day is announced on September 2nd - events will take place in Kaunas during the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying match between Lithuania and Liechtenstein.
This year, the "Fair Play" initiative takes place worldwide from September 2nd to 6th during official matches of the International Football Association (FIFA) and the European Football Associations Association (UEFA). The initiative, which has been taking place for fifteen years, is personally supported by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini.
"Fair play and respect for others should be the basis of sports and the responsibility of every athlete," emphasized Lithuanian Football Federation President Liutauras Varanavicius, "We must nurture and cultivate these values. We call on Lithuania's football enthusiasts, professionals, and fans to join this initiative, which we hope will not end with the final whistle of these qualifying matches."
FIFA and UEFA aim to promote the principles of fair play and respect in all areas related to football, starting with children's sports. "Children must grow up with clear values. Football, as a team game, helps them understand what is most important in life - team spirit, discipline, respect, and honor," said J.S. Blatter - "The FIFA 'Fair Play' campaign is not limited to just football. We aim to instill these values in society as a whole, starting with our future - children."
"We are proud to popularize football in the spirit of peace, understanding, and fair play - without any forms of political, gender, religious, racial or other discrimination. With the football, we are all equal!" said M. Platini.
During the Lithuania-Liechtenstein match on Friday at the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Sports Center stadium in Kaunas, the flags of the campaign will wave, preschoolers participating in the LFF program "Bring Kids Back to the Stadiums" project "Futboliukas" will be dressed in clothing dedicated to "Fair Play" and will lead the players onto the field, while both team captains will invite to support this initiative.
The first FIFA "Fair Play" initiative took place in 1997.
