Title sponsor of the Virslīga and FC RFS, Tonybet heads to LNK Sporta Parks on 23 August for the tightest Riga derby in years, with a fan zone, a merchandise offer and a welcome for both sets of supporters.
Latvian football throws up a tight title race often enough, but seldom one as tight as this. When FC RFS host Riga FC on Sunday 23 August, a single point separates the two clubs at the top of the Tonybet Virslīga, with 11 league matches apiece remaining. Whatever happens at LNK Sporta Parks that evening will still be under discussion in November.
The rivalry has grown quickly, and it has grown because both clubs kept winning. FC RFS took the championship in 2023 and 2024; Riga FC answered with the 2025 title. Between them they have occupied the top two places season after season, which means the Riga derby rarely passes without consequence. Sunday brings the third of four league meetings in this year’s four-round format, and the first since the summer break – a break in which both sides also spent their midweeks in European qualifying.
What makes the fixture worth the trip is the particular quality of a derby played in a compact ground. LNK Sporta Parks is not a cavernous stadium, and on derby day that works entirely in its favour.
Tonybet on the shirt – and in the ground
Tonybet’s involvement in Latvian football runs from the league’s name to the front of the FC RFS shirt. As title sponsor of the Virslīga and main sponsor of the club, the operator has spent the season backing the competition from the outside. On 23 August it will be inside the ground too.
A branded Tonybet zone will be set up at LNK Sporta Parks for the derby, open to every supporter who walks through the gates. There is no ticket tier to reach it and no allegiance required – home fans, away fans, families arriving early with children, and anyone who simply fancies a look are all welcome. Come and say hello.
“Riga is our home city, and this is our home city’s biggest football match – one point between the two best sides in the country, with everything still to play for. That is why we wanted to be at LNK Sporta Parks in person rather than watching from a distance. Our zone is open to everyone, whichever end you are sitting in. For anyone backing a side on Sunday, set your limit before kick-off, treat the bet as part of the entertainment, and stop when it stops being fun,” says Jurijs Rapoports, COO and Executive Chairman, Tonybet.
Wear the colours
Running alongside the matchday activity is the FC RFS promotion on the Tonybet Latvia site, live since the spring and open until 30 November 2026. It works like this: make a deposit of at least €40 and select the FC RFS bonus badge in the cashier, then place one qualifying real-money bet of €40 on any sport at odds of 1.50 or better. That single bet is enough. Once the criteria are met, players receive an official FC RFS fan package along with ten risk-free spins on Wazdan’s Football Mania Deluxe, fixed at €0.10 a spin and carrying no wagering requirements, so any winnings can be withdrawn straight away.
Merchandise can be collected at the Tonybet Branded Zone or by approaching the Tonybet promo girls at the LNK Sporta Parks stadium. Full details and terms are on the promotion page.
Kick-off at LNK Sporta Parks is at 19:00. The fourth and final derby is at Skonto in November, which makes this the last one FC RFS will host in the league this season, and Tonybet zone will be open from the moment the gates are.
18+ | Play responsibly | Terms and conditions apply.
