The Albanian soccer federation president and the Albanian national team are the subject of scathing attacks by high-profile public figures within the country. Reuters reports that Prime Minister Sali Berisha recently called the national team a “mafia group,” while Culture Minister Ylli Pango Prime Minister accused the soccer federation president of “selling” two of Albania’s Euro 2008 qualifiers. The accusations come at a time when UEFA is investigating more than 24 European cup competition matches for possible match fixing.
Culture Minister Pango called on UEFA to investigate the two Euro 2008 qualifiers — a 4-2 home loss to Belarus and a 6-1 away drubbing by Romania — under “clear suspicions that both matches might have been sold by the president of our national soccer federation,” Pango wrote in his letter to UEFA, made public on Wednesday. “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’s letter was released just after Prime Minister Berisha derided the national team for bringing shame on Albania. “This is a mafia group that tramples upon the flag,” Berisha told Albanian television. “Let the nation be not represented for a time rather than be represented by a mafia that sells their shirts.” Following those comments, the players threatened to sue the Berisha if UEFA finds the team free from any wrongdoing.