Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan

The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA; Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Futbol Federasiyaları Assosiasiyası, AFFA) is the governing body of football in Azerbaijan. Formed in 1992, it is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the amateur and professional game in its territory.

Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan
UEFA
Founded1992
FIFA affiliation1994
UEFA affiliation1994
PresidentRovnag Abdullayev
Websitewww.affa.az

AFFA sanctions all competitive football matches within its remit at national level, and indirectly at local level through the AFFA Amateur League. It runs numerous competitions, the most famous of which is the Azerbaijan Cup. It is also responsible for appointing the management of the men's, women's and youth national football teams and leagues.

AFFA is a member of both UEFA and FIFA.

History edit

The AFFA was formed on 26 March 1992, after Azerbaijan gained its independence from the USSR.[1] On 23 February 2009, the AFFA, along with UEFA vice president Şenes Erzik, unveiled the Azerbaijan Football Academy.[2][3]

In 2010, the association adopted a new logo.[4] In 2012, the federation held an election with Rovnag Abdullayev being the only candidate, the assembly was marred with controversies.[5]

Relationship with FIFA edit

The country's football association received a major blow in April 2002, when UEFA imposed a two-year ban in response to a long-standing conflict between the AFFA and majority of the Azerbaijan Premier League clubs.[6] The domestic championship was abandoned as a result of the conflict and the top clubs prevented their players from playing for the national team, with tax officials also probing allegations of fraud at the Azerbaijan federation.[7]

Principals edit

Office-holders
Office Name Tenure
President Fuad Musayev[8] 1992–2003
Ramiz Mirzayev[9] 2003–2007
Elshad Nasirov[10] 2007–2008
Rovnag Abdullayev[11] 2008–present
Vice-president Fatulla Huseynov[12] 1992–2001
Elshad Nasirov[10] 2001–2007
Rauf Aliyev[13] 2007–2008
Elshad Nasirov[14] 2008–present
General Secretary Tofiq Bahramov[15] 1992–1993
Chingiz Ismayilov[9] 1993–2007
Elkhan Mammadov[16] 2007–present

Competitions edit

It organizes the following competitions:

Men's football
Women's football

National teams edit

The AFFA also organises national football teams representing Azerbaijan at all age levels:

National team Manager Captain
Men's
Senior   Gianni De Biasi Maksim Medvedev
Under-23 vacant Ruslan Abışov
Under-21   Milan Obradović Hajiagha Hajili
Under-20
Under-19   Samir Aliyev Turan Valizade
Under-18   Zaur Hashimov Karim Diniyev
Under-17   Vugar Mammad Jalal Huseynov
Under-16   Tabriz Hasanov unknown
Under-15   Aslan Kerimov
Futsal   Miltinho Rizvan Farzaliyev
Beach soccer   Zeynal Zeynalov Elhad Guliyev
Women's
Senior   Siyasat Asgarov Aytaj Sharifova
Under-17 unknown

Sponsorship edit

Companies that AFFA currently has sponsorship deals with include:

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "AFFA-nın 20 İLLİK FƏALİYYƏTİNƏ "2" VERİLDİ". www.musavat.com (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  2. ^ Opening of Football Academy
  3. ^ Opening ceremony of Azerbaijan Football Academy to take place early 2009
  4. ^ Утвержден новый логотип АФФА - ФОТО. 1news.az (in Russian). Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Rovnag Abdullayev re-elected AFFA president". www.uefa.com. UEFA. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  6. ^ "İbrahimoviç Qurbanova çatdı". futbolplusqol.com (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  7. ^ Walker, Paul. "Relief for Wales as Uefa lifts ban on Azerbaijan". Independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 1 September 2011.[dead link]
  8. ^ "Fuad Musayev: "AFFA-nın hədiyyəsindən imtina etdim"". news.lent.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Chingiz Ismayilov: "Fuad Asadov offered me deputy post"". www.today.az. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Elşad Nəsirov: "Mən "Neftçi"nin sahibi yox, AFFA-nın vitse-prezidentiyəm" - See more at". rekord.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  11. ^ "Wealth Generator". www.thebusinessyear.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Eldar Rahimov: "Haji Mammadov bribed Rovshan Aliyev"". www.today.az. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  13. ^ "AFFA - nın vitse-prezidenti Rauf Əliyev : Gunah futbolçularmızdadı!". newsport.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  14. ^ "AFFA president visits UEFA". www.uefa.org. UEFA. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  15. ^ Kazimzade, Agshin. "Great Moments in Soccer". www.azer.com. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  16. ^ "Field of Play". www.thebusinessyear.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  17. ^ "Azerbaijani Premier League has a new sponsor". news.az. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  18. ^ "Bakcell becomes sponsor of Azerbaijani national football team". www.bakcell.com. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  19. ^ "AFFA ilə "Atena" şirkəti arasında sponsorluq müqaviləsi imzalanıb". mak.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  20. ^ "Youth Development". www.unicef.org. Unicef. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  21. ^ "AFFA, Coca-Cola sign sponsor deal". news.az. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  22. ^ "AFFA". www.accessbank.az. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  23. ^ ""Clear" rəsmən millimizin sponsoru oldu". stadium.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 5 November 2014.

External links edit