Mazurs questions Virslīga fairness after Ogre United relegation, calls for answers from LFF

Ogre took an early lead but conceded three times before half-time, including twice from the penalty spot, before Auda added a fourth late on. The defeat ended the club’s hopes of surviving its debut season in Latvia’s top flight. Speaking after the match, Ogre United head coach Viktors Mazurs acknowledged his team’s shortcomings but also raised questions about the fairness of the competition, referring to earlier controversies involving team selections and possible relationships between clubs.

“There were several occasions this season when people talked about certain matches where perhaps the result wasn’t fair,” Mazurs said. “Journalists also raised questions about games in which one team perhaps wasn’t playing its strongest line-up. There was a big scandal, a lot of discussion about the situation. But somehow it all disappeared, and in the end there was no clear answer.”

Mazurs suggested that speculation about informal arrangements between clubs had created uncertainty for teams competing in the relegation battle.

“If someone perhaps joins forces somewhere, if there are some, I don’t know, so-called ‘syndicates’, and someone can perhaps help someone else, then that isn’t entirely clear. But again, I don’t want to accuse anyone. There were several situations that received quite extensive coverage, but we still haven’t received answers.”

The coach urged the Latvian Football Federation and its disciplinary committee to provide clarification, while stressing that Ogre accepted responsibility for their own results.

“This certainly isn’t some excuse for our results. Our results are our responsibility. But we want fair competition everywhere, we want the situation to be transparent, and we also want answers. I don’t think this question is coming only from our club, from me or from the club management. I think part of the public also wants to hear those answers. It’s very important that we find answers to these questions.”

Asked about Ogre’s own team selections against FK Liepāja, particularly regarding players on loan, Mazurs insisted that he had never experienced outside interference.

“I can honestly say that since I became head coach, nobody has ever come to me and told me that a particular player shouldn’t play. Regarding all the players we have on loan, no club has ever told me or the management that someone cannot be fielded. I believe we have always played with our strongest line-up.”

Despite his concerns about the wider competition, Mazurs conceded that Ogre’s relegation ultimately reflected their inability to turn competitive performances into results.

“Those mistakes and the situations that led to the goals we conceded characterise this season. We changed things during the season, we could compete against any opponent and we tried to turn the season around. But there was always something missing.“

Auda coach Didier Zanetti offered a sympathetic assessment of the relegated side, praising the work of Ogre’s coaching staff and the attitude of their players.

“The result is the result, but I think this team deserved more points in this championship,” the Frenchman said.

Mazurs insisted that Ogre remain determined to return to the Virslīga, while hoping the questions he raised would be addressed before the end of the season.