Introduction

At Minija Football Club, we are committed to ensuring a sustainable future for our club, our fans and our community. We follow the UEFA Club Sustainability Guidelines – therefore, we strive for financial stability, fair governance and assume social and environmental responsibility. We control the club’s expenses and income, always pursuing long-term goals, not just sporting ones, and we are committed to increasing transparency and implementing sustainable practices in our community.
The club follows. FIFA, UEFA, LFF recommendations and strategic documents are correlated with the UEFA Sustainability in Football Strategy, and the UEFA Sustainable Infrastructure Guidelines are used, as well as the LFF Social Responsibility in Football Strategy 2023-2028.
Our sustainability strategy covers the topics of equality and inclusion, anti-racism, child and youth protection and well-being, football for people of all abilities and environmental protection.
We aim for our club’s initiatives and example to have a positive overall impact on our fans and community.
A key horizontal action across the strategy is the delegation and implementation of the responsibilities of the Football Social Responsibility Officer and the club’s Disability Access Officer to designated staff or community members. Job descriptions are developed and the authority to act, make recommendations for change and implement them after receiving approval from the club’s management and funding for the changes.
The social and environmental sustainability strategy is reviewed annually in consultation with the club’s Football social responsibility officer and Disability access officer, with a report on the nature of the consultations provided to the club’s owners. Once a year, the club manager presents a report on the implemented activities to the club’s owners, the LFF and the community.

1. Equality and inclusion

Football Club Minija adheres to, implements and reminds club members about the principles of equality of persons, social integration and inclusion in various activities – from organizing events to playing football. Ensuring equal opportunities regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability or other identity features is one of the club’s core values.

The club ensures:
1. Full integration of a person into the club’s activities (professional, voluntary) regardless of their identity features.
Actions: Analysis and adaptation of recruitment, volunteering and youth inclusion processes to ensure an equal opportunities policy.
KPI: At least 20% of newly recruited volunteers or employees are from underrepresented groups.
Time: January 2026 – December 2030 (ongoing activities).

2. Equal opportunities for professional careers, preventing any manifestations of violence or psychological pressure.
Actions: Review of the internal code of ethics and communication campaign within the club.
KPI: 100% of employees and players informed about the code through an internal educational session (every season).
Time: March 2026 – September 2026 (updated annually).

3. Zero tolerance for harassment and discrimination and active response to the recognition of different needs.
Actions: An anonymous reporting system for club members and employees has been created; a responsible person has been appointed.
KPI: Statistics on the use of the system and an annual report (target – 0 tolerance incidents).
Time: September 2026 – implemented continuously.

4. Active participation in social initiatives promoting equality and inclusion.
Actions: Participate/organize at least 3 public inclusion initiatives annually (visits to educational institutions, organization of inter-class competitions to encourage girls to play football).
KPI: Number of participants in initiatives – involving at least 200 participants per year.
Time: 2026–2030 (annually).

2. Racial, gender equality and anti-discrimination

Football Club Minija follows a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any discrimination, actively implementing the preventive measures of the Lithuanian Football Federation, UEFA and FIFA. We follow the UEFA ten-step plan in the fight against racial inequality and anti-discrimination. We have a zero tolerance for discriminatory language, abuse, swearing and any other behavior. We expect our community to treat others in a manner that upholds the principles of fairness, respect and tolerance. We have a complete disapproval of hateful behavior based on any form of discrimination. We would not want you to be part of the FK Minija club if you cannot accept this or behave in a manner that is inconsistent with these values.

1. Creation of a publicly accessible tool for reporting discrimination incidents
Actions: Gather a creative team and integrate the reporting tool into the FK Minija website.
Target group: Spectators, stadium employees, volunteers.
Responsible person: Club manager.
KPI: tool developed and tested by December 2026.

2. Prevention of racism during matches
Actions: Warning messages are published before the match, preventive briefings are organized for stadium personnel.
Target group: Spectators, stadium employees, volunteers.
Responsible person: Match organizer, safety coordinator, club employees.
KPI: possible manifestations are monitored, information dissemination is strengthened, activity status is evaluated dynamically and regularly.

3. The club’s position against racist manifestations is made public
Actions: Information messages are placed on social networks and on the stadium screen (in matches with a larger audience)
Target group: Society, spectators, social media audience.
Responsible person: Communication department.
KPI: 2-3 messages per season.

4. Communication of commitments to spectators
Actions: A commitment to a zero-tolerance policy is integrated into the ticket purchase platform.
Target group: Spectators.
Responsible person: Communication department.
KPI: 100% of tickets with information about the policy.

5. Prevention of the distribution of discriminatory paraphernalia
Actions: Prohibition of the distribution of racist literature or paraphernalia in the stadium territory.
Target group: spectators
Responsible person: club managers, head of communication and marketing
KPI: 0 recorded violations during the season.

6. Actions towards players
Actions: Educational sessions and personal conversations, in case of an incident – internal investigation.
Target group: teams of all age groups
Responsible person: Head coach, sports director.
KPI: 100% zero tolerance result

7. Rapid reaction to racist signs in the stadium area
Actions: Visual monitoring and response
Target group: Spectators, stadium maintenance staff.
Responsible person: club employees
KPI: activity status

8. Equal opportunities policy for employees and fans
Actions: Annual policy update, staff training.
Target group: Human resources department, spectators.
Responsible person: club administration
KPI: 1 training per year, 0 incidents.

9. Cooperation with social partners
Actions: Participation in projects with schools, voluntary
organizations, social partners.
Target group: Community, youth, partners.
Responsible person: communication department
KPI: 3 projects per year

3. Football for all ability

Football Club Minija is committed to ensuring that every person – regardless of physical or sensory abilities – feels welcome and can actively participate in the club’s activities as a spectator, volunteer or team member. Inclusion is one of our organizational values, which we based on in both our daily activities and strategic decisions.

Our goals in promoting football for people of all abilities:
I. Apply the principles of equal rights and opportunities in club-organized events, aiming to ensure that everyone feels respected and has the right to express themselves, enjoy the game and contribute to it;
II. Ensure that the football environment and its infrastructure are accessible to all who want to participate, welcoming players and fans of all abilities;
III. Protect health and well-being by engaging in football activities in all age groups and raising awareness about communicable diseases;
IV. Help refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people to remain physically and mentally healthy and integrate them into the community through football.

Actions:
1. Ensure physical accessibility of the stadium for people with disabilities: special parking spaces, adapted stands and entrances to the stadium are installed.
2. Discounts or free admission are applied to people with disabilities and their accompanying persons during club events.
3. Develop and implement volunteering offers for people with disabilities – encourage their involvement in event organization, information provision, ticket control, etc.
4. Educate staff, players and academy students about disability diversity, empathy, communication and respect – through seminars, discussions, social initiatives.

Target group: spectators with disabilities, community members, academy students, volunteers, club employees.

Key performance indicator (KPI):
– 100% accessibility of stadium events for people with disabilities;
– at least one social initiative with disabled people’s organizations every year;

Responsible person: Club Director, HR and Project Coordinator

4. Environment

Football Club Minija considers sustainability an integral part of its activities and seeks to integrate environmentally friendly solutions into its daily practice, develop conscious community habits and set an example of how sport can be an ambassador for a sustainable approach to the environment. The club takes responsibility for the creation of ecological and sustainable stadiums and training bases and the optimization of match experiences with the smallest possible footprint.

Our environmental goals:
I. Optimize and reduce the consumption and
life cycle of products, especially food, packaging and other goods, during our club’s matches and events;
II. Prevent or reduce environmental pollution from football-related activities, while
increasing the dissemination of information to encourage urgent action;
III. Organize events in a way that avoids negative impacts on the urban environment and
community;
IV. Understand that football infrastructure provides long-term financial and environmental benefits and
enhances the legacy of shared spaces for local communities.

Actions:
1. Waste is sorted at stadiums during all training and matches – separate
containers for plastic, paper, glass and mixed waste are installed.
2. The team and academy students have abandoned single-use plastic bottles – only reusable water bottles and large-capacity water containers are used during all
training and matches.
3. During the warm season, players are encouraged to arrive at training by bicycle or other sustainable means of transport.
4. Club members are encouraged to choose public transport, walking or scooters – thus reducing their carbon footprint.
5. Training is organized during daylight hours, in order to minimize electricity consumption.
6. The club and the academy actively participate in environmental initiatives – from public campaigns such as “We do” or “We sort”, to educational lessons and social projects on nature conservation.
7. The club will publish the Social and Environmental Sustainability Strategy on its website.

Target group: players, academy students, coaches, club staff, spectators, partners.

Key performance indicator (KPI):
– 100% use of reusable water bottles in training and competitions;
– Participate in an environmental initiative at least once a year.
– Regular waste sorting and informational materials in the stadium, dissemination on social networks.

Responsible person: Club administration, communications manager.

5. Protection and well-being of children and youth

Football Club Minija understands that long-term stability cannot be achieved without a youth academy and the integration of children and youth. Although the pursuit of sporting results in men’s football is not always compatible with the protection of children and youth, the club is committed to making maximum efforts to make football a fun and safe activity for all children who play it, regardless of their age, ability and level of involvement. The foundations of the club’s work must be oriented towards preventing any risk of injury to children in the football environment and responding appropriately to the harm caused. This part of the strategy is described in more detail in the Child Safety Strategy, which is a separate strategic document of the Academy, and the club assumes responsibility for the application of the document in the club’s activities.

Our goals in the field of child and youth protection and well-being:
I. To create the foundations for ensuring safety;
II. To ensure guidelines for preparedness and prevention;
III. To raise awareness of individuals;
IV. Cooperate with other institutions in reporting situations of concern;
V. Assess progress in ensuring safety.

Actions:
1. Waste is sorted in stadiums during all training sessions and matches – separate containers for plastic, paper, glass and mixed waste have been installed.
2. The team and academy students have abandoned single-use plastic bottles – only reusable water bottles and large-capacity water containers are used during all training sessions and matches.

Target group: players from U15 to U21, academy students, coaches, club staff, spectators, partners.
Key performance indicator (KPI):
– Integration indicators of young players and number of complaints through the welfare/trust specialist;
– Sports psychologist consultations for young players regarding the future, pressure for results individual conversations, 2 for each young player;
– Injury prevention events for young players, training with club personnel, at least 4 sessions;
– Health check-ups for all players, anti-doping and match integrity prevention training in accordance with LFF requirements.
– Group training for young players regarding communication in social networks, training 2 times per year.
– Ensuring the importance of education policy, promotion and assistance in combining higher education and career after sports issues. Annual report.

Responsible person: Club manager, communication department, head coach