The Selman Stërmasi Stadium ( Albanian : Stadiumi Selman Stërmasi ) is a multi-purpose stadium in Tirana , Albania . It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of KF Tirana . The stadium holds 9,500 people (all seated). It is named after Selman Stërmasi , one of KF Tirana's best players of all time. The stadium was also used by Dinamo and Partizani until 2010, however, due to failure to cooperate on the admittance fees, these teams were not allowed to use the stadium any further.
21-511: The stadium is located approximately 400 m from the west side of the Lana stream and of former exhibition site "Shqiperia Sot" (now Top-Channel Television headquarters). It was built in 1956 and named Dinamo Stadium until 1991 when it was given its new name. The Football Association of Albania and KF Tirana decided posthumously name the stadium after the eminent KF Tirana player, coach and president, Selman Stërmasi. The stadium has recently ended
42-538: A friendly against Poland . The current president of FSHF, Armand Duka, has been at this position since 2002 and won the elections for a third term in 2010. During the 2009 controversy between FSHF and the Albanian government as to the property of the Qemal Stafa Stadium . UEFA insisted in lobbying that the stadium be given to FSHF ownership so that investments on it can be made. In February 2011 it
63-408: A long phase of construction, which involved development of the main pitch, central seated area, facilities around the ground and general lineaments. There are still improvements expected to be made, such as side seated areas, an electronic clock and a KF Tirana shopping centre just under the central seated stand. The internal facilities include a press conference room. The main parking area is located at
84-562: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Football Association of Albania The Albanian Football Federation ( Albanian : Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit ; FSHF ) is the governing body of football in Albania . Headquartered in Tirana , it organizes the national football leagues of Kategoria Superiore , Kategoria e Parë , Kategoria e Dytë , Kategoria e Tretë , Albanian Cup , Supercup , Kategoria Superiore Femra and
105-480: The Albanian Women's Cup . The federation also coordinates and oversees the activities of the Albania national football team , Albania women's national football team and the Albania national youth football teams such as Under-21 , Under-20 , Under-19 , Under-18 , Under-17 , Under-16 and Under-15 . On June 6, 1930, the government of King Zog I issued a royal decree recognizing the establishment of
126-661: The Liberation of Albania in 1974. One of the stands was extended from 10 to 28 rows, taking the capacity of the stadium to 35,000 (no seats were installed at that time). An electronic display purchased in Hungary was also added. The enlargement of the stadium was celebrated in November 1974, on the occasion of the Third National Spartakiad. After 1991, other modernization projects took place, including
147-726: The Partizani Tirana club and from the Albanian Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports was addressed to the Albanian government for the stadium to be renamed after the famous footballer. During the early 2000s, the stadium was considered a "curse" for other national teams by the Albanian media, partly due to the fact that Albania rarely lost their home games. In a period from September 2001 to October 2004, Albania went undefeated at this ground. Illustrious national teams such as Greece , who had just won Euro 2004, were eclipsed by Albania in 2004, whereas teams like Sweden ,
168-627: The 100th anniversary of the Albanian Declaration of Independence , which will occur in 2012, a new national stadium will be built in Tirana. The new stadium, already approved by the Albanian Football Association and the government, will replace the existing one which will be demolished. The number of seats is expected to be more than 22,500. The total construction cost will be around € 60 million, and 75% of
189-544: The 1990s it became an all-seater stadium , and its capacity was reduced to 19,700. The stadium was demolished in June 2016 to make way for the new national stadium called the Arena Kombëtare , was constructed on the same site and opened in November 2019. The Football Association of Albania and the Albanian government divide the property rights of the stadium between them; the football association holds 75% rights and
210-689: The Albanian Sports Federation. The newly formed sports entity would join the world governing body, FIFA , during the June Congress of 1932, officially marking Albania’s participation in international football. A revised order was issued in March of 1934, to dissolve the Federation, transferring its authority to the heads of the national entity "Vllaznija Shqiptare" (est.1928), which was in charge of various sports activities at
231-611: The Albanian government put the stadium on a list of assets for sale. During the summer of 2010, there was a disagreement between the Albanian Football Association (FSHF) and the Albanian government as to the disposition of the stadium. FSHF, sponsored by UEFA, proposed that the stadium, rather than being sold, should be totally donated by the government to FSHF, under the condition that the stadium receive UEFA funding for its reconstruction. On 8 October 2010, Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha declared that for
SECTION 10
#1732802554817252-608: The front of the stadium which leads to the entrance. In December 2014, work started yet again on Selman Stërmasi Stadium and the Skënder Halili Complex in order to fully renovate these grounds to be used by KF Tirana . The stadium's exterior, interior and playing surface was renovated and 8,150 seats were replaced as part of the renovations taking place. 41°19′08″N 19°48′40″E / 41.319006°N 19.811196°E / 41.319006; 19.811196 This article about an Albanian sports venue
273-464: The government 25%. National Arena , with a capacity of over 22,500 spectators built at a cost of € 60 million. The new stadium is football-only; the athletics track was removed. It meets the highest UEFA category . The original stadium was built in an Olympic Stadium shape, as idealized by Gherardo Bosio , a young fascist architect from Florence , Italy . Its planned capacity was 15,000; Tirana at that time had less than 60,000 inhabitants so
294-507: The installation of seats which reduced the capacity to today's 19,700. In 1996, Qemal Stafa had illumination for evening sports event for the first time, with the funding being a gift from UEFA . In 2008, the stadium was revamped with new areas for anti- doping procedures and internet rooms were added for journalists. The stadium is used by the Albania national football team and for the home games of Tirana-based Albanian football clubs: KF Tirana , Partizani , and Dinamo . In June 2010,
315-555: The largest football stadium in Tirana , Albania . Construction started in 1939 and the stadium was inaugurated in 1946 for the Balkan Cup , which was won by the Albania national football team . The stadium has been used for football matches of the Albanian Superliga and the national team, athletic events, and the six Albanian Spartakiads . Although it was enlarged in 1974 to accommodate up to 35,000 spectators, in
336-462: The property rights of the stadium will belong to the Albanian Football Association, and the remaining 25% to the Albanian government. Once finished, the stadium is expected to be of category four, the highest UEFA category , and will potentially be able to host Champion League final matches. The demolition of the old stadium started in June 2016. In January 2010, after the death of the notable Albanian player Panajot Pano , an official request from
357-549: The stadium was used for the Albanian Superliga matches, athletics events, and the six Albanian Spartakiads . The second football stadium in Tirana, the Selman Stërmasi stadium , was built in 1959 but by the late 1960s and early 1970s, the stadium's capacity was still not sufficient to meet the growing needs of the Albanian Superliga. The Qemal Stafa stadium was thus enhanced for the 30th anniversary of
378-698: The stadium would have been more than sufficient. The stadium was originally designed in an elliptical shape and was to have been completely clad in marble. Galeazzo Ciano symbolically placed the first stone in August 1939. Construction lasted four years; work was interrupted in 1943 after the Capitulation of Italy . During the German invasion of Albania the stadium was used by the occupying German forces to store vehicles and equipment. After World War II , 400 workers and 150 daily volunteers finished construction of
399-510: The stadium. The planned marble cladding was only installed on one stand. The stadium was named after Qemal Stafa , a Hero of Albania in World War II. The inauguration occurred when the Albania national football team played in the stadium for the first time on 7 October 1946, when the Balkan Cup was organised. The Cup was won by Albania; they overcame teams like Yugoslavia , Bulgaria , and Romania in that competition. Afterwards
420-458: The time. The federation was one of the founding members of UEFA in 1954. On 14 March 2008, FSHF were suspended by FIFA for "heavy political interference." This meant that their national teams were banned from playing official matches, representatives banned from official events, and referees unable to officiate FIFA-sanctioned matches. The ban was subsequently lifted as the political interferences were clarified, and on 27 May 2008, Albania played
441-421: Was decided that the new stadium, which will replace the current one and will cost 60M Euro, will be 75% of FSHF and 25% of the Albanian government. General Sponsor Technical Sponsor Premium Sponsor Official Sponsors Qemal Stafa Stadium The Qemal Stafa Stadium ( Albanian : Stadiumi Qemal Stafa ), named after Qemal Stafa (1920–1942), a World War II hero, was a national stadium and
SECTION 20
#1732802554817#816183