Mayor Accused of Using Threats to Shape Albania Football Election

The Albanian Football Federation, FSHF, the country's football governing body, has accused Erion Veliaj, Socialist Party Mayor of Tirana, of using threats against board members ahead of a vote for the head of the Federation.

It has provided a tape containing a conversation in which Veliaj is heard using slurs, coarse language and threats. One of his spokespersons later said it was only "boys' talk". Veliaj has confirmed the veracity of the tape but said it should be heard in context.

The Football Federation has been led by Armando Duka, 60, since 2002 and he is currently running for another four-year mandate.

Heads of the federated soccer teams and delegates of regional organisations are expected to vote in the FSHF election. Duka is running against a sports commentator, Dritan Shakohoxha, who apparently has the support of Veliaj.

Veliaj has not hidden his interest in the election of this nominally nonpolitical position, accusing the current leadership of corruption.

Most football teams in Albania are owned by local municipalities, whose mayors vote in the elections. But about one third of seats in the assembly are reserved for associations.

One of these associations, the Regional Association of Football, Tirana, representing PE teachers in Tirana's public schools, met Veliaj lately, which is when the mayor made the alleged threats.

The association's chairman will vote for the Federation chairman and Veliaj allegedly pressured members of the association so that his own man would become chairman of the association.

"We are no whores that hide, we are men, and 40 men will go there and say, these are our votes. Open the door and we will piss on your home, so you can understand that you have had your fun and that...