Albanian football federation asks for govt. help amid coronavirus outbreak

Sports Tuesday 31/March/2020 18:58 PM
By: Times News Service
Albanian football federation asks for govt. help amid coronavirus outbreak

Tirana: The Albanian Football Federation (AFF) has requested the government's help in the form compensation for the whole football community in Albania, as it faces economic difficulties following the ban on all football activities due to the coronavirus outbreak, the AFF said in a press release on Monday.

According to the press release, the federation sent a letter to the government on Monday asking for financial support for the entire football community in Albania through a compensation package.

Football clubs across the country are unable to make payments due to the interruption of all ticket revenue, television broadcasting and sponsorship withdrawals, said the AFF.

"This situation has paralyzed the work of football clubs, schools and academies, leading them to bankruptcy and leaving thousands of employees with no income, starting from football players, coaches and technical staff," read the letter.

In their request, the AFF urged the government to include all employees working in the football sector in a compensation package "as a fundamental right to guarantee the survival of their families in this difficult time."

After the confirmation of the first coronavirus cases in Albania on March 9, the Emergency Committee of the AFF ordered for all football activities to be held behind closed doors as a measure requested by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

On March 12, the AFF decided to suspend all football activities across the country.