RFS head coach Viktors Morozs has reacted to the choice by Riga FC to skip the final Virslīga fixture of the season between the two teams on Sunday, declaring that he is unable to respect their choice not to play. The freshly crowned champions of Latvia were set to play against their local rivals in the concluding round of the 2026 campaign, but Riga FC stated on Saturday that they would stay off the pitch, pointing to disputed refereeing decisions and worries regarding fair play.
Writing in a post on his Instagram profile, Morozs cited the famous viewpoint of Italian manager Arrigo Sacchi concerning triumphing with respect and accepting defeat with dignity. He then looked back at RFS’s own situation when they missed out on the title to Riga FC during the previous season.
Morozs expressed pride in his squad, noting that following their defeat last year, they handled the loss honorably without offering excuses or pointing fingers at others. He added that they drew lessons from that period and returned prepared to compete.
The head manager of RFS then turned his attention to the choice made by Riga FC, stressing that his squad secured the current season’s title via their efforts on the field. He concluded that this is the reason he cannot show respect for the choice to decline playing.
This scenario holds an extra layer of irony considering the conclusion of the 2025 Virslīga campaign. Even though Riga FC had already secured the championship and the last derby held no bearing on the league table, RFS nevertheless stepped onto the pitch at Skonto Stadium and triumphed over their local adversaries with a score of 4-3.
Twelve months later, the positions have flipped, with RFS claiming the championship title while Riga FC secured second place. Yet, contrary to the previous campaign, the concluding derby will fail to happen if Riga FC proceeds with their stated boycott.
Riga FC have leveled accusations against officials for continuous mistakes that impacted the league table, while also censuring the Latvian Football Federation regarding what they termed an omission in handling continuous grievances raised by Virslīga clubs.
SOURCE NAME: balticfootballnews.com
Source: balticfootballnews.com
