The government has decided to provide 3 billion lek to the Albanian Football Federation for the expenses of the European U-21 Championship, which will take place in 2027 and which Albania is organizing together with Serbia. This results from the decision published on December 23, 2025 in the Official Gazette.
It is about Euro U-21 2027, an event where Albania and Serbia are co-organizers, despite strong public opposition to a joint organization with Serbia. However, in addition to political approval, the AFF also benefits financially, receiving a bonus of 3 billion lek from the state budget.
The figure of about 300 million new lek coincides with the same amount that Armand Duka promised to football clubs during the last Assembly, as a “gift” from the federation. This is where the main point of the debate arises: for the organization of the European championships, the respective federations benefit from special funds from UEFA, which makes the need for such a large additional financing from the state budget unclear.
The Albanian Football Association, in this case, is doubly favored: not only did it secure the political green light to organize the championship with Serbia, but it now also receives an additional 3 billion lek from the government. A "bonus" that comes at a delicate moment for the head of the federation.
Armand Duka, who is not known for generosity as a dominant trait, seems to have done his calculations. With the elections for the seventh term at the head of the Albanian Football Association approaching and expected to take place by June, he has promised to distribute this money to the clubs, which are in a difficult economic situation. Under these conditions, resistance or voices against it are almost absent.
But there is a huge gap between promises and reality. Albanian clubs have never received 3 billion lek from the Albanian Football Association, despite similar figures being promised to them several times over the years. Will it be different this time, or will the money remain at the promised level again, remains to be seen.
