The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (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. AFFA is a member of both UEFA and FIFA.
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.
History The AFFA was formed on 26 March 1992, after Azerbaijan gained independence from the USSR. On 23 February 2009, the AFFA, along with UEFA vice president Şenes Erzik, unveiled the Azerbaijan Football Academy at Nobel Avenue, Baku.Opening of Football AcademyOpening ceremony of Azerbaijan Football Academy to take place early 2009
In 2010, the association adopted a new logo. In 2012, the federation held an election with Rovnag Abdullayev being the only candidate. He was elected to serve a second term as head of the AFFA.
Members
President: Rovshan Najaf Regional Football Federation: Balakishi Gasimov (AFFA Vice-president), Elshad Nasirov (AFFA Vice-president), Sarkhan Hajiyev (AFFA Executive Vice-president) Professional Football League: Farid Mansurov, Gurban Gurbanov, Khayal Javarov, Magsud Adigozalov, Samad Gurbanov Sectional Football Federation: Leyla Khalilova Rzazada, Ulvi Mansurov Public Football Union: Konul Mehtiyeva: (AFFA Vice-president), Zaur Akhundov
Relationship with FIFA 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. 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.
Principals +Office-holdersOfficeNameTenurePresidentFuad Musayev1992–2003Ramiz Mirzayev2003–2007Elshad Nasirov2007–2008Rovnag Abdullayev2008–2024Rovshan Najaf2024–present
Competitions
It organizes the following competitions: Men's football Azerbaijan Premier League (or Topaz Premyer Liqası); First league Azerbaijan First Division (or Birinci Divizion); Second league Azerbaijan Cup Azerbaijan Supercup Azerbaijan Futsal Premier League AFFA Amateur League
Women's football Azerbaijan Women's Football League
National teams The AFFA also organises national football teams representing Azerbaijan at all age levels: National teamManagerCaptainMen'sSenior Fernando SantosMaksim MedvedevUnder-23vacantRuslan AbışovUnder-21 Milan ObradovićHajiagha HajiliUnder-20Under-19 Samir AliyevTuran ValizadeUnder-18 Zaur HashimovKarim DiniyevUnder-17 Vugar MammadJalal HuseynovUnder-16 Tabriz HasanovunknownUnder-15 Aslan KerimovFutsal MiltinhoRizvan FarzaliyevBeach soccer Zeynal ZeynalovElhad GuliyevWomen'sSenior Siyasat AsgarovAytaj SharifovaUnder-17unknown
Sponsorship Companies that AFFA currently has sponsorship deals with include:
Topaz - Official sponsor Bakcell - Official sponsor Atena - Official sponsor Unicef - Official sponsor Coca-Cola - Official sponsor AccessBank Azerbaijan - Official sponsor Clear - Official sponsor
See also Professional Football League of Azerbaijan
References
External links
Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan at FIFA site Azerbaijan at UEFA site