FK Zalgiris fans stage luggage protest demanding coach's exit
In one of the more theatrical protests football has seen in recent times, supporters of Lithuanian club FK Žalgiris took matters -- quite literally -- into their own hands. Fed up with the team's disappointing performances under head coach Vladimir Cheburin, fans arrived at the stadium armed with a clear message: pack your bags.
Los hinchas del Zalgiris en Lituania, enojados con su actual entrenador, le tiraron VALIJAS a la cancha a modo de protesta para que se vaya.
Esta si no la había visto. Estuvo bien la respuesta del tipo. (?) pic.twitter.com/n9VK0Boz52; Nahuel Lanzón (@nahuelzn) August 5, 2025
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. During the Kaunas derby against local rivals Kauno Žalgiris on August 4, spectators hurled suitcases onto the pitch, forcing players to pause and remove the debris before play could resume. It was a symbolic act urging Cheburin to leave the club. Surprisingly, the under-fire coach greeted the protest not with anger, but with applause -- perhaps acknowledging the creativity, if not the sentiment.
The incident is a reflection of a deeper frustration brewing among Žalgiris supporters. Once a dominant force in Lithuanian football, FK Žalgiris now languishes in seventh place in the A Lyga, trailing their derby rivals Kauno Žalgiris by a staggering 18 points. The club's European campaign also ended in disappointment last week, as they were eliminated from the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers by Northern Ireland's Linfield (0-0, 0-2 on aggregate).
Žalgiris fans have always worn their passion on their sleeves—and for good reason. The club collapsed in 2008, only to be revived through a grassroots initiative led by its supporters. Their emotional investment runs deep, and so does their sense of ownership.
Founded in 1947, the club—initially named Dynamo Vilnius and later Spartakas -- adopted the name Žalgiris in 1962. It represented Lithuania during the Soviet era and famously clinched bronze in the 1987 Soviet football league. Since Lithuania regained independence in 1990, Žalgiris has become a private club and one of the most decorated in the country. Their biggest breakthrough in Europe came in the 2019-20 season, when they reached the UEFA Europa League for the first time in club history.
Today, however, the proud club faces a crossroads, with its supporters making it abundantly clear they want change. And if their latest protest is anything to go by, they're not checking out any time soon.
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