3 hours agoPresident UEFA in Tirana: No politics in the elections, football has to decide football.
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)President UEFA, Alexander Ceferin, has paid an official visit to Tirana today, where it was originally received at a meeting by Prime Minister Edi Rama. The purpose of President Cefer's visit was to discuss the problems of recent incidents related to the FSHF election process. Later, the head of the European football government has developed a [...]
Later, the head of the European football government has paid a visit to the Football House, where he was hosted by FSHF President Armand Duka, Secretary General Ilir Schulk and members of the FSHF Executive Committee.
During the visit, President Cefer also presented an interview for the news agency “Associated Press”, where he spoke of the purpose of his visit and commented on the meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama.
President UEFA expressed concern about the created situation and the incidents that took place during this election process, stressing that football must decide on football and that there should by no means be political interference in the process. Also, Ceferin said that unless political interference is jeopardised, development of U's first historic final EFA Europe Conference League in Tirana.
The FSHF is ahead of elections for the governing bodies. What is your comment on the matter?
I came here today to visit the Albanian Football Federation and meet Mr. Armand Duka, who is a member of the UEFA Executive Committee. In principle UEFA does not intervene in the election processes, but we want fair elections and we do not want any interference from other parties. I also had a meeting with Prime Minister Rama today, we were a little concerned about the situation according to reports we read in the media. I'm glad we agreed with the Prime Minister that football has to decide about football. UEFA will provide all its support, will bring representatives here to verify the correct election and certainly have no interference from any party outside the football.
) There were several incidents here actually. At first, there was an explosion at the home of President Duka and then several tensions with the Tirana City Hall, with the mayor making many serious accusations against the FSHF. What is your position on this matter?
The most important thing here is that this situation doesn't help Albanian football. There must be calm, we are ready to help everything be quiet, everything must be transparent and with good governance. I don't want to get into anyone's statements coming from local actors.
Can all these tense situations affect the organisation of the UEFA final Europe Conference League in Tirana on May 25th?
) After we read the articles in the media we were a little worried about the U final ECL, but I talked to the president of the FSF and the prime minister, with whom we agreed there will be no political interference in the election, which football will decide for football and that's what we want. If UEFA does not intervene, no one else should interfere with this process. If things are like this and I have a lot of confidence in the prime minister's words, then the development of the Conference League final here is certain. Now we will look forward, because it is UEFA's first Europa Conference League final in history.
