The top Lithuanian club might have to compete in a landmark Champions League qualification match later this month away from home, having leased their home ground for a performance by American musician Pitbull.
On Tuesday evening, FK Kauno Zalgiris, winners of the Toplyga, defeated Kosovo’s title-holders Dritam 3-2, advancing 4-3 on aggregate to earn a spot in the second qualifying round and collecting roughly €1.7m in rewards. The team is set to visit the Faroe Islands champions, KI, next Tuesday before staging the return fixture in Lithuania on 28 or 29 July.
Nevertheless, having not anticipated this level of European achievement, Zalgiris—primarily renowned as the country’s most successful basketball organization—had already arranged for a Pitbull concert at their 15,000-capacity Darius and Girenas Stadium on 31 July, causing a frantic search for another location.
It is believed that Zalgiris sought to reverse the order of the legs and host the first match, but that option appears improbable. The Faroe Islands observe their national celebration, St Olav’s Day, on 28 and 29 July. Moreover, another local side, HB, is due to face Motherwell in the Conference League second qualifying round on 30 July, which would stretch policing resources further. Consequently, rather than enjoying home advantage, Zalgiris will likely end up playing in Jonava, roughly 30 kilometres away, in a venue that accommodates just over 2,500 spectators.
Following the match in Kosovo, Zalgiris manager Zeljko Sopic openly voiced his irritation over the fixture conflict, lamenting that the squad would be displaced “because of a concert by some dog or somebody”. He went on to say: “It’s better I don’t say anything about that. It is what it is.”
Zalgiris chairman Mantas Kalnietis explained that the club knew a clash was possible but had aimed to host the first tie to avert the issue. “For the stadium, concerts like this are an important revenue stream, and for the people of the city it’s also a great event,” he remarked. “In the end, the money generated bolsters our entire organisation, helping us assemble a stronger side and boost our prospects of reaching the group phase.
“There will be no other concerts at the stadium this summer, so this situation will not repeat itself in the subsequent rounds this year.”
Edgaras Stankevicius, head of the Lithuanian football federation, called the double scheduling “highly regrettable” and noted: “The Jonava venue is pleasant and well-kept, but it remains a significant step down.
“It is natural to want to contest these major fixtures in your own ground. Incidents like this certainly do nothing positive for the overall development of Lithuanian football.”
Pitbull is set to perform in Kaunas, the country’s second-biggest city, during his European “I’m back!” tour, coming soon after he broke the Guinness world record for the “largest gathering of people wearing bald caps” at a London show the previous week.
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