Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj reacted aggressively after a conversation with members of Tirana Regional Football Association became public on Monday by the Albanian Football Association. Veliaj was recorded as saying he will do everything he can with the Prosecution Office and Special Structure against Corruption (SPAK) to make a living hell the lives of the FA president and members. He used vulgar language to pressure on the members of the Tirana Association which has six votes in the FA General Assembly that will elect the FA president. “Our balls are made of iron. Football is the only island out of our control”, Veliaj said among others, adding that “even if Jezus and Muhammad descend here they will not be able to stop his fight” versus FA president Armand Duka.

After the conversation became public, Veliaj said he will stick to what he said in a boys talk.

“I stick to what I said in that rubbish of a wiretap of the Football Association, which instead of guaranteed equality in the race for its head is engaged in wiretaps and blackmail on account of its Bey”, Veliaj said.

“The Municipality of Tirana is a shareholder of the football club Tirana, so no one should confuse my affiliation with the Socialist Party with my involvement as a shareholder in this electoral process rigged by the Bey of the Football Association; or take out of context a boys talk like in every football field before matches”.

“The independence of the FA cannot be used as a fig leaf for a naked king that has become despicable for the shareholders and lovers of the Albanian football, who simply does not have our sympathy as one of the shareholders”, said Veliaj.