Home Football Baltic League could be pioneer for cross-border football in Europe

Baltic League could be pioneer for cross-border football in Europe

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Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia is thought by many to be the best region within Uefa boundaries to pilot an integrated league

Outside the hall, snow is consolidating into ice and the pavements are increasingly treacherous. Inside a drum’s beat is echoing among the scattering of fans watching from an overhead gallery and RFS, the Latvian champions, are dominating their pre-season game against Nomme Kalju from Estonia. When their towering Albania defender, Herdi Prenga, puts them two up the outcome is effectively sealed and the only surprise is that a combative but less fluent away side introduce some doubt with a late consolation.

With winter rendering the adjacent grass pitch unplayable they are under a roof competing in the Livonian League, a new friendly tournament that pits teams from Latvia and Estonia together before domestic campaigns resume in March . But there is a growing movement in favour of making these fixtures a more formal, meaningful occurrence: as part of a pioneering, Uefa-approved cross-border “Baltic League” that would also include sides from Lithuania. Many in smaller countries sense existing structures are unequipped to deal with football’s perpetual widening of competitive and financial gulfs.

Continue reading…Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia is thought by many to be the best region within Uefa boundaries to pilot an integrated leagueOutside the hall, snow is consolidating into ice and the pavements are increasingly treacherous. Inside a drum’s beat is echoing among the scattering of fans watching from an overhead gallery and RFS, the Latvian champions, are dominating their pre-season game against Nomme Kalju from Estonia. When their towering Albania defender, Herdi Prenga, puts them two up the outcome is effectively sealed and the only surprise is that a combative but less fluent away side introduce some doubt with a late consolation.With winter rendering the adjacent grass pitch unplayable they are under a roof competing in the Livonian League, a new friendly tournament that pits teams from Latvia and Estonia together before domestic campaigns resume in March . But there is a growing movement in favour of making these fixtures a more formal, meaningful occurrence: as part of a pioneering, Uefa-approved cross-border “Baltic League” that would also include sides from Lithuania. Many in smaller countries sense existing structures are unequipped to deal with football’s perpetual widening of competitive and financial gulfs. Continue reading…