Basque Football Federation
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| Founded | 1988 |
|---|---|
| President | Luis Elustondo[1] |
| Website | Basque Football Federation |
The Basque Football Federation (Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea (EFF) in Basque) is the federation responsible for managing association football in the Basque Country autonomous region.
It manages several Basque leagues such as the Third Division (Group 4), the Basque Youth League and the Basque Women's Football League. It also runs the Basque regional stage of the Federation Cup and organises and selects the Basque Country national football team which draws its players not only from the Basque Country autonomous region, but also from the neighbouring Basque regions of Navarre and the French Basque Country.[2][3][4]
The Basque Football Federation is part of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
Contents
History
In the early 20th century federations were formed for each of the regions of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, each of which is part of the Basque Country. As long ago as 1931 the idea of creating a single federation for the whole Basque Country was considered,[5] but for various reasons this was not done at that time. In 1988 the Basque Football Federacion was finally created encompassing the three original federations, each of which continues to organise football competition within their area.[6][7]
Purpose
The Basque Football Federation's purpose is to promote, organise and authorise association football competition across the Basque Country autonomous region.
In addition to this it selects and arranges fixtures for the Basque Country national football team,[8] for which it aims to gain UEFA and FIFA affiliation so that it can participate in regular international competitions.[9]
FIFA affiliation
The Basque Football Federation has as one of its aims the official participation of the Basque Country national football team in international competitions.[9]
In 1979 Pablo Porta, president of the Spanish Football Federation, stated that the Basque Country might participate in the next World Cup. He explained that in the same way that Welsh clubs participate in the English league but are also represented by the Welsh national team, so the same model could be used in Spain.[10] However this idea has not been implemented.
In 2010 the Basque Football Federation changed its statutes to make it responsible for international competitions in the Basque Country, but the Supreme Court of Spain suspended these new statutes.[11]
In 2012 it was decided by the Constitutional Court of Spain that the Basque Country could compete in international competitions so long as it did not compete against Spain.[12]
Competitions
The Basque Football Federation organises the following competitions:
- Tercera División, grupo 4 (Third Division, group 4)
- Copa RFEF (Regional phase of the Federation Cup)
- Copa Vasca Juvenil (The Basque Youth Cup)[13]
- Liga Vasca Juvenil (The Basque Youth League)
- Liga Vasca Cadete
- Copa Vasca Cadete
- Liga Vasca Femenina (Basque Women's Football League)
- Copa Vasca Femenina (Basque Women's Cup)[13]
- Liga Vasca de Fútbol Sala (The Basque Futsal league)
Notable clubs affiliated to BFF
Presidents
Laurentzi Gana Gorozika (1992- )
Iñaki Dobaran Garetxana (2006-2009)[9]
Santiago Arostegi Oleagordia (2009-2012)[14][15]
Luis Maria Elustondo Ciarreta (2012–present)[16]
See also
References
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