The Lithuanian Basketball League invited clubs, arenas, police and security services to a meeting to discuss the measures that will be taken to ensure the safety of spectators and participants in the championship. All parties unanimously agreed that the take-up and use of pyrotechnics in basketball arenas poses a real threat to the safety of spectators, therefore, more stringent inspections and controls will be carried out at the arena entrances.
Particular attention was paid to security personnel after the incident last season when fans with pyrotechnics injured a spectator at the Siemens arena in Vilnius.
"Starting this season, the LKL administration intends to encourage basketball fans to support their teams," said Rasa Liuimiene, director of the LKL competition after the meeting. - Although the use of swear words in public places is a violation of the administrative procedure, the Lithuanian basketball League, including all LKL clubs, will organize projects and promotions so that gradually fans choose other means to support their team. Both LKL and LKL clubs are looking for different ways to create a safe environment for basketball fans, and especially for spectators with young children, in a manner that does not endanger people's health. "
During the meeting, it was agreed that fans' swear words would not be tolerated. Therefore, in all arenas, additional cameras will be installed that will fix the behavior of the viewers, and the footage will be transmitted to the police. Officials will impose fines in accordance with the statutory procedure, and apply more stringent measures for repeat offenses - prohibitions to access LKL arenas from six months to two years.
At the meeting, it was proposed to change the LKL Championship enforcement regulations and to provide for penalties for supporters to be assigned to a club whose fans went through, for example, infiltrated pyrotechnic. In this way, both the club and the club's fans would be interested in building the relationship between the club and supporters on the basis of mutual respect.
The LKL and the interested institutions are aiming at one goal - that the fans will have a good selection of games, they will be safe and support their favorite teams. Therefore, this weekend, the LKL administration together with club heads will meet again and discuss opportunities and means to achieve the desired goal, involving various players and fans in a number of projects and campaigns.
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