February 9 – In an unusual move, UEFA are sending a delegation to Albania to monitor the electoral process of the Albanian FA before clubs vote on a new president next month.
UEFA said the “assessment mission” was the result of talks between its president Aleksander Ceferin, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and federation president Armand Duka (pictured).
The three-person delegation will travel to Tirana on February 14-16 ahead of the election on March 2 when Duka is set to face a challenge from sports commentator Dritan Shakohoxha.
Duka, in the hotseat since 2002, is seeking a sixth four-year term despite persistent allegations of corruption and Ceferin was quoted as saying recently that there could be “no governmental interference, that football will decide about football and that’s what we want.”
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.
Duka has been locked in a public conflict with Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj, who has accused the federation head of corruption and money laundering. He is also accused of changing the voting system to ensure he is re-elected.
Last month, an explosion rocked Duka’s home in the western port city of Durres. The attack was condemned by Albanian President Ilir Meta.
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