UEFA land in Albania where politics and football have reached pre-election boiling point

February 16 – A UEFA delegation has arrived in Albania to evaluate the electoral process of the national federation before clubs vote on a new FA president next month amid concerns about political interference.

A federation statement on Monday said the three-member delegation visited its headquarters to get more information about the election and recent incidents it said were “caused by the flagrant political intervention.”

Albanian Football Federation President Armand Duka (pictured) is seeking re-election for a sixth four-year term on March 2

But he has been locked in a public conflict with Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj, who has accused the federation head of corruption and money laundering. Duka is accused of changing the voting system to ensure he is re-elected.

The backdrop to the visit is that UEFA are staging the inaugural final of the third-tier Europa Conference League in Tirana on May 25.

During their three-day stay, the UEFA officials will also meet with representatives of the eight regional associations who are eligible to vote in the election, before preparing a report for UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and the national federation.

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1645011685labto1645011685ofdlr1645011685owedi1645011685sni@w1645011685ahsra1645011685w.wer1645011685dna1645011685