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. 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.
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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.
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.
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:
Sponsorship
Companies that AFFA currently has sponsorship deals with include: