The Ordinary General Assembly of the AFA held its proceedings today in the premises of the “House of Football,” with the participation of delegates, members, and representatives of national and international football institutions.
At this event participated the Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu, the FIFA representative, Marco Ferri, and the UEFA representative, Jozef Kliment.
The Assembly’s proceedings were opened by the President of AFA, Armand Duka, who in his speech emphasized that the Association is determined to advance the development of Albanian football with dedication, integrity, and a long-term vision.
“But every strategy, every project, every ambition requires more than ideas and plans. It requires will. It requires courage to make decisions and responsibility to carry them through to the end. We do not talk about progress. But we lead it! And this starts here, at the Assembly, all together, as always supporting one another, undoubtedly also criticizing when appropriate, but always with the aim to move forward.
Football is not the property of anyone, but the responsibility of everyone! It requires mutual trust, concrete cooperation, and joint commitment to make it stronger, fairer, more competitive, more educational, and more inclusive.
You, dear members of AFA, are not just witnesses of this journey – you are its co-authors!”
Also, the President of AFA spoke about the change in the sports law proposed by the Ministry of Education and Sports, calling for the demands of the football government experts to be taken into account. “That proposed law aims to create a clientelist sports arbitration, not independent or professional at all. In the name of the largest sports organization in the country, I call on MAS, the Parliamentary Commission, and Parliament to reflect and not vote for that law. But to cooperate with all sports federations, interest groups, and produce a legal package that will serve the development of sport!” said President Duka, while also giving good news for the clubs of the “Abissnet Superiore” Category and the First Category.
“We will increase commercialization revenues by 30% and in 2026 distribute 3 million euros to the clubs of the Superiore and First Category, as direct financial support for improving their functioning.”
The Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu, stressed the importance of football as the most beloved sport for Albanians and highlighted the successful organization of the UEFA U-17 European Championship “Albania 2025,” for the first time in our country.
“The Assembly is an important moment of reflection, assessments, and undoubtedly a vision to share for the future of Albanian football. Football is the most beloved sport for Albanians and a great unifying force, at the same time a powerful instrument of education, integration, and social development.
Achievements in recent years are many, and I want to mention one of the international activities we developed in Albania, the UEFA U-17 European Championship, where Albania not only participated but also became an important point of destination for international football activities, showing that it knows how to organize and welcome major international events.
I am pleased that together with President Duka we have a plan to create football sports classes in one of the new schools in Durrës, “Benardina Qerraxhia.” We also have a plan for the development of the sports mastery school “Loro Boriçi,” – said the Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu.
The FIFA representative, Marco Ferri, conveyed the greetings of the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and reconfirmed support for the AFA, especially through the FIFA Forward program. He congratulated President Duka on the projects carried out and appreciated Albania’s successes on the international stage.
“I convey to you the warmest greetings from the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, as well as from the FIFA Secretary General, Matthias Grafström.
I am here to emphasize FIFA’s commitment alongside the Albanian Association and its President so that:
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we create new opportunities related to football throughout the country,
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we enable as many children, boys, and girls as possible to play football in the best conditions,
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we support the Association in implementing its strategic vision, ensuring that we can further develop the beautiful game at the elite level, but at the same time also at the grassroots level. One cannot exist without the other.
In this regard, I would like to underline the excellent relationship between FIFA and the AFA administration. This relationship now gives us the opportunity to work together on key development projects related to infrastructure development as well as the promotion of football, particularly through our FIFA Forward program, which is the largest sports development program in the world.
I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate President Duka for his long contribution at the head of the Association, for his strong leadership and, most importantly, for all the projects implemented over the years, especially in terms of infrastructure and sporting performances: we still remember, for example, the historic qualification to the Euro 2016 finals, followed by the qualification for Euro 2024 (I still have in memory that exciting match against Croatia).
Speaking about the field, I wish you all the best in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where we can witness a good start with a second place in the group stage so far, in a fairly competitive group with strong teams. Therefore, we can still believe in Albania’s first qualification for a World Cup final stage. That is all I wish for you!” – said the FIFA representative, Marco Ferri.
The UEFA representative, Jozef Kliment, praised the rapid and sustainable development of the AFA, mainly in recent years in all aspects. Kliment also emphasized that the AFA has proven to have all the capacities and abilities to organize European events. There was no shortage of a direct thank you to President Duka for building the strong foundations of football in Albania under his leadership.
“It is very important that European football continues to be a model of unity in this increasingly divided world. United we stand and united we will continue to stand. Politicians build walls, football builds bridges. The best example of this is the organization of the UEFA U-21 European Championship in 2027 by two countries from the same region – Serbia and Albania – as a symbol of football’s role in promoting regional cooperation.
It is no coincidence that UEFA trusts the capacities of the AFA. You have already demonstrated your organizational abilities, as well as the quality of the infrastructure, most recently in May with the organization of the UEFA European U17 Championship 2025, as well as with several UEFA development tournaments during 2024. And, not to forget, the “National Arena” in Tirana was the venue of the inaugural final of the UEFA Europa Conference League between Roma and Feyenoord in 2022.
The AFA is one of the most sustainable and fastest developing federations in Europe. In recent years many changes have been made, and your federation continues to move forward in developing all levels of football, from grassroots to elite, with a main focus on creating better infrastructure for future generations.
To mention some of your strategic projects: initiatives like the “100 pitches” project, the “My Uniform” project, and the digital platform “My Federation” should be praised, which show the FSHF’s commitment to grassroots football development and inclusiveness. We are happy that also funds from UEFA’s HatTrick Program contributed to the realization of these successful projects and that these resources have been used effectively and wisely.
All these efforts have also brought results in your National Team’s performance, which qualified for the first time in its history for UEFA EURO 2016. In 2024, your National Team again participated in the final tournament, an acknowledgment of the extraordinary progress that the AFA has made in developing competitive teams and improving technical preparation.
For all these achievements, I want to thank your president on behalf of the entire European football family. Dear Armand, what you have achieved during these 23 years leading the AFA, as well as being a member of the UEFA Executive Committee since 2019 (and in the role of Vice-President since 2023), is simply extraordinary.
Certainly, it has not been an easy path, but thanks to your leadership, you have managed to build strong foundations for football in Albania for the coming years, focusing on including more children in football, developing competitions, and building infrastructure that offers an excellent football experience. Congratulations and thank you for everything,” said the UEFA representative, Jozef Kliment.
Next, President Duka, according to the agenda, invited the vice-chairman of the Verification Commission, Ervin Sherifaj, to report on the meeting of the General Assembly in accordance with the Statute. Based on article 28 of the Statute, it is composed of 33 members, represented by 47 delegates, respectively 22 professional football clubs and an equal number of delegates from amateur football, as well as 3 delegates for associations of professions related to football.
From the verification carried out by the Verification Commission, in this assembly, out of 47 delegates, 44 delegates of clubs and member associations of the AFA were present. The Verification Commission, based on the AFA Statute and the Assembly Regulation, notes that the convocation of the General Assembly was carried out in accordance with the AFA Statute and within the deadlines specified.
According to the Statute, members of the General Assembly were asked to approve the agenda. Next, it continued with the election of delegates to verify the minutes of this assembly, where the Secretary General of the AFA, Ilir Shulku, proposed three names: Ardian Takaj, Donald Mziu, and Krenar Alimehmeti, who were voted by the delegates present at the Assembly. Afterwards, the delegates proposed as observers of the Assembly were also voted: Besnik Kapllanaj, Gerald Burba, and Ilirjan File.
Subsequently, the members voted for the exclusion of the Association of Sports Medicine, which is not functional and in accordance with the law.
The Verification Commission for a two-year term was selected: Rozeta Shira (Chair), Mr. Ervin Sherifaj (member), and Mr. Andi Skënderi (member).
According to the agenda, the Assembly continued its work by approving the minutes of the previous Assembly, the activity report of the AFA for the period between the two assemblies 2024/25, presenting the financial report of the AFA for the year 2024, the report of the independent and external auditors, the ratification of the AFA budget for the year 2025, and the approval of the budget for the year 2026.
Also, some changes to the Statute were approved aiming at clarification, technical improvement, and harmonization of the existing provisions of the Statute. The changes include the specification of the legal names of the member associations, linguistic improvements, and edits for greater clarity, as well as adjustments related to representation, the composition of statutory bodies, and institutional transparency.
RSM Albania Sh.p.k. was voted as independent and external auditors for the financial year 2025.
Members of the National Dispute Resolution Chamber were elected, who are: Alban Nako, Skerdian Kurti, Brunilda Jani, Dritan Petova, Doriana Çeliku, Dritan Dema, Astian Ramaj, Sadleva Bodo, Borama Mustafaraj, Ermir Godaj, Erinda Meli, Jeronima Lulashi, Besjan Kadiu, Gerti Zela, Genc Cifligu.
In the assembly, the members voted for the acceptance of two associations as members of the FSHF: the new Association of Sports Doctors and Physiotherapists and the Albanian Association of Futsal and Minifootball.
In the last point of the agenda, the members voted for the indefinite suspension of all legal relations of the FSHF with KOKSH, until the moment when:
– The legality situation is restored;
– The decision of the Court of Sports Arbitration is fully implemented; and
– KOKSH acts in accordance with its statute and the international norms of sports self-governance.
With the approval of all these points, the works of the General Assembly of the AFA were also closed.
