Thursday, December 06, 2007
Albanian chief accused of 'selling' Euro qualifiers
Albania's soccer team has been branded a 'mafia group' by Prime Minister Sali Berisha while the country's culture minister accused the President of the National Soccer Federation of 'selling' two Euro 2008 qualifiers.
In a letter addressed to UEFA last month and made public earlier this week, Culture Minister Ylli Pango called upon the sport's governing body in Europe to investigate 'clear suspicions that both matches might have been sold by the President of our National Soccer Federation'.
'This is clear evidence that he is using our national soccer team's matches for his own interests, insulting the feelings of its fans and supporters,' Pango wrote.
'Therefore, I kindly invite UEFA to investigate both matches,' he added.
Albania lost 4-2 at home to Belarus and 6-1 away to Romania in the last two Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Coach Otto Baric resigned after the unsuccessful campaign.
In a letter addressed to UEFA last month and made public earlier this week, Culture Minister Ylli Pango called upon the sport's governing body in Europe to investigate 'clear suspicions that both matches might have been sold by the President of our National Soccer Federation'.
'This is clear evidence that he is using our national soccer team's matches for his own interests, insulting the feelings of its fans and supporters,' Pango wrote.
'Therefore, I kindly invite UEFA to investigate both matches,' he added.
Albania lost 4-2 at home to Belarus and 6-1 away to Romania in the last two Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Coach Otto Baric resigned after the unsuccessful campaign.
