# Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan

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.

## History

The AFFA was formed on 26 March 1992, after Azerbaijan gained its independence from the USSR. On 23 February 2009, the AFFA, along with UEFA vice president Şenes Erzik, unveiled the Azerbaijan Football Academy.
In 2010, the association adopted a new logo. In 2012, the federation held an election with Rovnag Abdullayev being the only candidate, the assembly was marred with controversies.

## 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.

## Principals

Office-holders :
| Office | Name | Tenure |
| President | Fuad Musayev | 1992–2003 |
| President | Ramiz Mirzayev | 2003–2007 |
| President | Elshad Nasirov | 2007–2008 |
| President | Rovnag Abdullayev | 2008–2024 |
| President | Rovshan Najaf | 2024–present |

## 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:
| National team | Manager | Captain |
| Men's |||
| Senior | Fernando Santos | Maksim Medvedev |
| Under-23 | vacant | Ruslan Abışov |
| Under-21 | Milan Obradović | Hajiagha Hajili |
| Under-20 | Milan Obradović | Hajiagha Hajili |
| Under-19 | Samir Aliyev | Turan Valizade |
| Under-18 | Zaur Hashimov | Karim Diniyev |
| Under-17 | Vugar Mammad | Jalal Huseynov |
| Under-16 | Tabriz Hasanov | unknown |
| Under-15 | Aslan Kerimov | unknown |
| Futsal | Miltinho | Rizvan Farzaliyev |
| Beach soccer | Zeynal Zeynalov | Elhad Guliyev |
| Women's |||
| Senior | Siyasat Asgarov | Aytaj Sharifova |
| Under-17 | Siyasat Asgarov | unknown |

## Sponsorship

Companies that AFFA currently has sponsorship deals with include:
* Topaz - Official sponsor
* Bakcell - Official sponsor
* Atena - Official sponsor
* Unicef - Official sponsor
* Coca-Cola - Official sponsor
* AccessBank Azerbaijan - Official sponsor
* Clear - Official sponsor