The President of the Albanian Football Association, Armand Duka, gave an interview for the LOG program with journalist Endri Xhafo on “News 24,” where he talked about the recent matches of the National Team in the Nations League, the work of coach Sylvinho with the National Team, UEFA’s activities in Albania, and the candidacy to host the Euro 2027 finals for U-21.
President Duka also discussed the important UEFA meetings that will take place in Tirana and the relationships with the government.
Below is the full interview:
– Matches against the Czech Republic and Georgia: Let’s set aside the sporting aspect for a moment and talk about that very ugly moment with the flags in the stadium, upside down, in addition to the banners. One of the criticisms you’re facing is that you didn’t ask for those flags to be removed before the match started. What is your comment on that?
– Look, those flags have nothing to do with the game of football and should not have been there. Nothing should compromise someone else, let’s say, another nation, or even another individual. From either side, neither from the Czech fans. I don’t think they are the Czech fans; it’s a group of ultras or some individuals who did that. After that, I don’t engage with these idiotic comments, but with the phenomenon, which should not exist! The game has rules. The organization has rules. There is a match delegate who should not allow and should remove them. Whether they were removed at the right moment or not, whether we notified them or not, that is our internal matter, and we handled it in the best possible way.
– When did you request for them to be removed?
– Now, we’re not here to investigate and say the minute when we notified the delegate, but I’m telling you that in the best possible way, at the moment we saw them… It’s not easy in the stadium; it’s easy to see on the screen, and it’s harder to see it from the stands…
– I’m sorry that you perceive our interview as an investigation.
– It’s easy to throw mud, but it’s very difficult to build and do work, or to make the Albanian national team participate in the European Championship twice, or to make it such that in the Czech Republic, we were very upset about the loss! We were really very upset about losing the match in the Czech Republic.
– We will also talk about the sporting aspect, but let me rephrase the question to ease the concern of everyone.
– If you degrade a national team match in the Czech Republic with flags, that is the biggest mistake you can make.
– I completely agree, so let me just rephrase the question.
Certainly, that is an ugly event, a condemnable event, which has nothing to do with the game, has nothing to do with us, which we have condemned at all times.
– Could the start of the match have been delayed until those flags were removed? That is the question.
– At the moment they saw them, they attempted to remove them and, as far as I know, they did remove those flags.
– Did you file a complaint, or did you notify that you would make a complaint?
– We made a public statement after the match, where we certainly condemned them, and of course, every person condemns such phenomena. Not only that with the flags but everything else that happens in the stands of the stadium.
– What’s the next step?
– We have made an official complaint to the UEFA Disciplinary Committee, but we are not happy with the punishment of the Czech Federation; we are happy with the elimination of phenomena. Our happiness does not come from how much the Czech Federation is punished, which will certainly be punished because these are the rules of organization. Through punishments and fines, UEFA has found a way to prevent or eliminate, but it is not an end in itself, because even the revenues that UEFA collects from these violations do not go into UEFA’s budget; they go to charity.
– Ah, interesting! Well, let’s move on to the sporting aspect of the match. I believe you’re more at ease now that we’ve addressed the concerns. Albania is third with 6 points, the same as Georgia in second place, and the Czech Republic in first with 7 points. Do we have a chance to finish first in the group with the two remaining matches we play here in Albania?
– The group is balanced in terms of team levels, balanced with the current standings, so anything can happen in the last two matches. Our objective from the beginning of this competition has been to finish first in the group, and we will continue to pursue that in the last two matches in November at home against the Czech Republic and Ukraine.
We have all the possibilities to achieve it! We have every chance to take 6 points—just as we might take less—because that’s football. Especially in this competition and in this group, which is truly very balanced and can bring any surprise. All teams aim for first place and have the opportunity to reach it.
The advantage we have is that we are playing at home. I think and hope that the team, the players, will use this as positive energy and not feel pressured, as happened with Italy in the first half of the European Championship, where the presence of fans increased the pressure and the team couldn’t show its true qualities. I hope that in these two matches the team expresses what it does best and I wish for them to have some luck and win the matches.
– When the Nations League was established, it was said to be a kind of formalization of the friendly match calendar. What does “first in the group” mean? Does it mean we will be promoted to a higher league?
– We fight to go higher every day! And the higher we go, the more difficult it becomes if you aim to grow. So what the Nations League brings is that the first place goes to League A, and in League A, we are not relegated, but we play on equal terms, even though we might lose, win, or draw.
As we have done against the top three in Europe, against Italy, Spain, and Croatia in the European Championship, and there is no relegation. If we finish first, we go to League A, we have a chance to play in the playoffs for the World Cup qualifiers; if we are in second place, we will play in the playoffs to be promoted to League A.
If we finish third, we will play in the playoffs to avoid relegation to Group C, and if we finish fourth, we drop to Group C. So, it’s a competition where every match, every goal, every point is very important to move forward!
– Let’s talk a bit about Sylvinho, who has faced criticism regarding the sporting aspect.
– Of what kind?
– The formations, substitutions, the players he engages…
– Do you think there will be a coach in the world who won’t be criticized? He will be criticized when he wins, but even more so when he loses, and those criticisms are valid and fair.
Because analyzing a football match after it has happened is easy, but predicting before it starts is difficult. And we are in these conditions. The coach thinks of what is best when he starts. And I believe that even the coach himself has criticisms of himself after the match, thinking he could have done something differently that might have worked out better.
But that’s post-factum. So, the criticisms are valid; in football, there are many solutions. On the field, the coach finds a scheme, an adaptation of the team that after the match may prove not very suitable, even the decisions about the players he puts on the field.
Since the match against the Czech Republic was a lost match with a not-so-positive performance, the criticisms are justified! The criticisms that are made, Sylvinho—and any other Sylvinho—should take note of and reflect on in his work; I’m sure that every person, even if they don’t publicly acknowledge it, actually does.
– Is Sylvinho someone who reflects? A former national team coach once said that “we have a maximum of 15 players, so we don’t have many options.” Today, it seems Sylvinho doesn’t have the problems of his predecessors. Is he a prisoner of the schemes or fixed ideas he has in his mind, or does he reflect post-factum, as you mentioned?
– It’s difficult for a football coach to admit openly that he made substitutions too late or didn’t make the right choice. From my experience, I’ve seen few who admit it. I’m convinced that everyone reflects inwardly.
For me, Sylvinho is a coach who has contributed a lot to the national team, who has had a totally positive performance, but of course, he has his mistakes and shortcomings, just like all of us.
But his commitment and professionalism are admirable, and fortunately for us, his results with qualification for the European Championship and even his results now in the Nations League are commendable.
– Let’s pause at the European Championship. One thing I am both curious and concerned about, and want to clarify for public opinion, is the ticketing aspect. There have been many accusations that the Federation or individuals within it were involved in the sale of tickets, that tickets were given for favors, for example, to travel agencies that sold packages with tickets… and tickets were sold out very quickly. I’m giving you a chance to clarify.
– We’ve had this discussion a thousand times. Tickets were available online, distributed through a draw by UEFA. Someone won; many did not. The Albanian Football Federation received a certain number of tickets only for the grouping of fans that it gave to them and for sponsors or its members. That was the situation. The rest of the tickets were distributed and sold by UEFA. After that, these conspiracy theories will never end.
– Let’s pause for a moment to talk about the victory against Georgia; we shouldn’t forget it before moving forward: it was very beautiful!
– Every victory is always beautiful, but this one truly came at the right moment, as it served the team’s morale.
– Well, let’s talk a bit about the international activities that will take place in Tirana. On November 1, we have a UEFA meeting in Tirana with the Media Committee, and next year, we will host the UEFA Executive Committee in Tirana.
– Yes, we have a meeting of the Media Committee in Tirana. Then we have a very important meeting with the 55 European associations in Tirana focused on social responsibility and the environment, one of UEFA’s strategies to impact people’s lives, including the environment through football, leveraging the influence of the sport.
This is truly a significant event for the European football organization. Next year, we have quite a few activities planned, starting with the European Championship for U-17s in Albania, and then in September, we will have the UEFA Executive Committee meeting.
– What does hosting the UEFA Executive Committee in Tirana mean?
– This is not something that only happens in Albania. The Executive Committee has been meeting outside of Nyon, Switzerland, for some time now, and holds meetings in various countries. Given that we are a hospitable and suitable country, I proposed to the Executive Committee to hold meetings next year in Tirana, and this was accepted with pleasure. We are good hosts; we have demonstrated that we can organize all events well.
– What was Edi Rama’s reaction?
– Fantastic!
– You are the most elected member in your re-election to the UEFA Executive Committee. I even recall that Prime Minister Edi Rama made a statement saying, “this is an honor for Albania.” However, at the same time, many Albanians criticize you. What do Albanians see that foreigners do not?
– God forbid we don’t have criticism. The more we work, achieve results, and have accomplishments, the more criticism we will face. Because if we stay at home and do nothing, I’m sure we wouldn’t have any criticism. Criticism doesn’t mean they don’t support you or don’t want you. Criticism makes you better; it shows they want what’s good.
– Let me share a somewhat anecdotal but true story. When the president of the English Football Association visited Albania while “Air Albania Stadium” was being built, he complimented you on the stadium and the sports infrastructure, saying, “we should take a lesson from Armand Duka.” One of your critics, who heard this, put his hand over his mouth and said to a colleague: “I knew it; even the Englishman thinks we should take a lesson from Duka.” Since we’re on infrastructure, does the President of AFA have a comment on the fact that a residential complex will be built at “Selman Stërmasi”? My question is without irony: Will we have a stadium with a tower, a tower with a stadium—how will it be?
– I am aware of the project; they have even invited us to provide the criteria that the stadium must meet to be classified as a category 4 stadium. The state institution responsible for this organization has asked us to submit the criteria.
– What does “category 4” mean? In other words, once “Selman Stërmasi” is completed, what matches can be played there?
– Category 4 means that all matches can be played there, except for the Champions League final. We have submitted these criteria, which have been accepted by this state institution, and I am very pleased that this will happen, that this stadium will be built, because it means Albania will have another stadium with optimal conditions.
As for whether there will be towers, or what else will be around, honestly, I don’t know, because there isn’t a detailed project yet. It is still in the phase of gathering criteria. To be transparent, the Football Association is not financially participating in this project.
– Who will manage that stadium? Today it is managed by Football Club Tirana?
– I can’t say; the Football Association will not manage the “Selman Stërmasi” stadium. We are simply there to provide the necessary criteria for it to qualify as a category 4 stadium.
– One of the people who has been critical of you recently is former Lazio sports director Igli Tare, a former national team player, as well as Lorik Cana, etc. This is a detail you did not mention in your upcoming activities, but it relates to the joint candidacy of Albania with Serbia to host the U-21 Championship. I know what you have said, that Albania could not host it alone, and you approached North Macedonia and Kosovo, but that didn’t happen, and in the end, it remained with Serbia. I understand your argument. Plus, they will play their matches in Serbia while we will play ours here. But have you ever thought that due to the very passionate fans from outside the territories of Albania, the national team may end up without players from Kosovo or North Macedonia in the future?
– There are certainly criticisms about this because there is a certain sensitivity due to historical reasons. The event is very significant for Albania, but it is not as significant for Germany, which can host a World Cup, a European Championship, and major competitions. With its modest infrastructure—not only sports—Albania has a really significant event to host this activity alone, which is impossible, which is why you must team up with another country.
Co-hosting with Serbia gives even more chances, both for the sensitivity this joint organization brings and for the message of peace it sends. Because in the end, even when it comes to voting, the fact that it goes beyond football matters. We indeed have the organization of the European Championship, but we also have a message that should guide us to live in peace. Igli or Lorik have been “soft” in their criticisms because there are others who are worse.
But I invite everyone to reason logically, not emotionally. The benefits are very significant—sporting, political, and social—for Albania and for Kosovo, even for Kosovo’s integration. So let’s look at it from a positive perspective, as a positive development. And I am very convinced that it is a positive development and a good service for the Albanian people!
– Do you feel a bit like Edi Rama when he first met Vučić, when everyone said in all Albanian territories, “don’t go, don’t go to Belgrade,” and he went, and now here we are, with Vučić coming to Tirana and no one is surprised anymore?
– Football has nothing to do with Vučić. I am convinced that the message is very good. Maybe some of those who criticize are convinced too, but for populism, they care more about saying the opposite.
– Since you mentioned populism, let me ask you: Does Igli Tare have any ambitions to take your place since he criticizes you, or with that Article 10 in the AFA statute, which states that you must be a resident for 10 years in Albania, have you excluded Tare and others like him?
– Now let’s discuss the statute. Article 10, 12, or 55 has never changed. It was like this before I came to the federation and remains the same.
– The gentleman has been rumored as a shadow candidate for the AFA leadership.
– He is absolutely suitable and is one of the key figures in Albanian football with significant contributions, not only in Albania but also abroad!
– Yes, but he needs to come and stay here for about 10 years. Anyway, I agree with you about the championship; I have no problem with it being held with Serbia.
– The Albanian team will play in Albania, the Serbian team will play in Serbia.
– That’s what I said from the beginning…
– Eight teams will play here, eight teams will play there. Thinking and reasoning, or even for pragmatism, is it better to have a European championship or not to have one at all? I’m returning to the criticisms; let’s not do anything to avoid any criticism.
– Now you’ve become like Edi Rama, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity, as long as they’re talking.”
– Absolutely, I’m not interested in publicity; I’m only interested in work!
– These days, there is talk about Albania’s integration into the EU. Meanwhile, you have integrated personally—as you are the Vice President of UEFA and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee—but also through football, as Albania has participated twice in a European Championship during your leadership and aims to continue… I call it “integration through football,” and I have told you this privately as well. Now, to return to the question I asked you earlier: In Switzerland, where you are, do they perceive our Balkan sensitivity positively? While I agree with you and am not contradicting you, could there still be a minimal risk that the composition of our national team could be affected by Albanian elements from Kosovo and North Macedonia? Or is this a risk you are willing to take?
– Everyone knows that this is the national team of Albanians, not just the national team of the Albanian state. We have said this several times, and it will continue to be part of our policy and strategy to keep the doors open for all Albanians wherever they live.
I see this as a contribution, both personally and from the AFA, as a cell of Albanian life to take Albania to Europe. If football has a positive contribution here, I am truly happy. Everything carries a risk. If you don’t want risk, don’t leave the house. So, the championship will happen, it will be successful, and I hope we will also succeed with our team. And we will participate for the first time in a tournament with the U-21 National Team.
– Where will the final be played?
– It has not been determined yet. It is yet to be defined. If we win the right to host the European Championship in 2027, then it will be determined where the opening and final matches will be played. One of the countries will host the opening match and the other the final.
– In this case, I will be the first to say, “Armand Duka, shame on you that, being within the European football government, we don’t get to host the final.”
– The same applies; there are times when the opening is more beautiful than the final. But I wanted to say that if today the organization is decided, the final will be in Tirana. Because the only suitable stadium is the one in Tirana. I believe it’s Tirana, as it has the best stadium.
– What happened was that when you appeared in a photo in Skanderbeg Square with Lorik Cana and Veliaj, with Lorik in the middle and Erion on the side, they were just inches apart, and you were nearly two meters away.
– I didn’t see that I was far away. But I respected the presentation protocol for the public during a cup final, where the federation president, the ambassador of the final, and the mayor of the hosting city should be present. But I don’t have anything personal against Erion Veliaj.
– So how are your relations now? Or just say the elections are over in the Federation, and now…
– The elections are over, but I have never had a friendly relationship, nor do I have one now, and I won’t.
– The political engagement of your brother, Agron, has it ever been a burden for you in the battles you have faced as the president of the Federation with different governments?
– We are brothers; we actually do everything together, we are in business together, we are a big family. So we live with each other’s troubles and contribute to each other’s challenges.
It is hypocrisy to say that I am not interested in how Agron’s political actions go or the political decisions he makes, as we consult each other. We are a family and have nothing separate. This happens rarely, but we operate with one account; we have nothing divided.
– Will Čehverin run for another term as UEFA President, or will he withdraw?
– De juro, according to the statutes, he has the right to run for another term in 2027. However, after the Congress in Paris, he declared that he does not plan to run. If you ask me, I would urge him to continue because the results speak for themselves. And I will lobby for him to continue!
– So, the UEFA President has three terms, while the AFA President has “no limit”?
– The limit is set by God, so there is no “no limit” (laughs). We have no limits in the statutes for all governing bodies of the Association. Perhaps we could set some; that’s something to discuss in the Assembly.
– Given that you are the most voted member of the UEFA Executive Committee ever, does Armand Duka aim to one day become UEFA President? Considering that today you have three secure votes: yours, North Macedonia’s, and Kosovo’s.
– No, I do not aim for that! I don’t plan on it today or in the future! I truly think about what I represent and what I am, and it is sufficient for me to be where I am. Plus, I believe that the current president is the right person for UEFA for another term.
– Tomorrow is the Tirana-Dinamo derby, the capital’s derby in Vlorë! Everyone says this is unprecedented. What is the AFA President’s comment on this?
– Because there is no other option for where it can be played. “Selman Stërmasi” is unsuitable for playing. At the “Air Albania” stadium, we just held the U-17 tournament and the U-21 National Team match, and the pitch is not ready, especially since it needs to be prepared for two National Team matches.
– What about Elbasani?
– Elbasani is playing its home match. This is not good. But we hope that with the completion of “Selman Stërmasi,” this situation will stabilize because Tirana and Dinamo don’t have a “home” where they can play their matches as hosts. The only stadium is “Air Albania.” This stadium cannot accommodate both National Team matches and all possible league matches.
– I left this for last so as not to take attention away from the rest of the conversation. In August, you received a threat and filed a complaint, after which five people were arrested, including the president of a lower-category club and the father of an athlete. What is the status of the investigation into this matter?
– I have closed that chapter. I shouldn’t have filed any report; I should have never done that. I made that report because I wasn’t in Albania, and when I saw the photos in that manner, I became concerned. But immediately after, I sent a letter to the prosecutor’s office saying that I had forgiven them, even for the sake of the spirit and message that a president of the Football Federation should convey. It could have been his hotheadedness, a rush, but…
– Did you close it yourself, or did they close it? Did they ask you for forgiveness?
– I didn’t meet the father, but I met the son, who is a very good young man and the goalkeeper for Tirana. I didn’t even allow him to ask for forgiveness. He came to meet me precisely for this reason, but I didn’t want to put him in a position to ask for forgiveness; I welcomed him with pleasure.
– President Duka, thank you for the interview.
– Thank you for the invitation and the opportunity as well. I hope we can jointly—because you are a football fan like me—achieve a positive result in November.
