"The task of police officers is, first of all, to ensure public order and make it a celebration for football fans, and city guests. Football unites people. If we look into the football philosophy, so football is a nice game that unites people, produces a lot of positive emotions for fans. Our task is, first of all, to ensure that those emotions are good and that everyone leaves our beautiful city of Vilnius with good emotions," Lančinskas told a press conference on Wednesday.
The police chief also called on Vilnius residents to be tolerant towards football fans, receive them in a hospitable way and not give in to possible provocation as police will show zero tolerance to "the slightest offences."
"Once we see that the situation is getting "hot", we will respond immediately," Lančinskas said.
VMFD Žalgiris and Lech Poznan are meeting in Vilnius on Thursday for the first game of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.
According to Lančinskas, part of Polish football fans illegally bought tickets to the game online. Around 800-1,000 Polish fans are expected to come to Vilnius, he said.
In an effort to avoid attacks by Polish football fans, Polish police officers will accompany Polish football fans to Lithuania on Thursday and help their Lithuanian colleagues ensure public order during the match.
