Having spent two decades in Lithuanian women's football, represented the country in the Champions League and developed national-team players for years, Gintra state their position on publicly reported proposals for the composition of the Lithuanian Football Federation's Executive Committee and Conference.
Public debate appeared to agree that more licensed clubs should participate in football governance. Yet the privilege will not extend to everyone. Women's clubs seemingly are not considered clubs in Lithuania. Following the LFF Executive Committee meeting on 1 December, a statement proposed eight A League and six First League club delegates for the annual Conference, without even specifying that all are men's clubs. That appears taken for granted. Women's clubs would participate only indirectly through one collective vote from the Lithuanian Women's Football Association.
UEFA licensing requires substantial preparation and compliance, which Gintra have fulfilled for years. The annual licence enables participation in the increasingly demanding, professional Champions League, developed through FIFA and UEFA efforts. Without seeking special treatment for Gintra or disrespecting men's First League clubs, we speak for the women's community: on what basis are those clubs considered superior and allocated six Conference votes, while all women's clubs are pushed to the margins without a single direct membership place?
Natural questions follow: is women's football in Lithuania intended to become professional? Should clubs continue investing? Is there a genuine prospect of growth and the breakthrough evident in European and world championships and club competitions? These questions matter to every Lithuanian women's club and demand clear answers. Judging only by the proposals for the Extraordinary LFF Conference, our answer for now is no.