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Estonian Football Association

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Estonian Football Association
UEFA
Founded14 December 1921[1]
HeadquartersTallinn
FIFA affiliation1923
UEFA affiliation1992
PresidentAivar Pohlak (2007–)
Websitejalgpall.ee

The Estonian Football Association (EJL; Estonian: Eesti Jalgpalli Liit) is the governing body of football, beach soccer and futsal in Estonia. Established on 14 December 1921, it organizes the football league, including the championship which is called Meistriliiga, Estonian Cup and the Estonian national football team. It is based in Tallinn. EJL became a member of FIFA in 1923 but was disbanded during the occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Union; during this time the Estonian SSR Football Federation (Estonian: Eesti NSV Jalgpalliföderatsioon) organized Estonian football. It became a member of FIFA once again in 1992, following Estonia regaining its independence.[2]

Background

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In the early 20th century, all sports in Estonia were governed by the Estonian Sports Association Kalev. Following success at the 1920 Summer Olympics, the Estonian Sports Association announced they were unable to continue to administer all sports in Estonia due to an increase in the number of sports being played. The Estonian Football Association was founded in 1921 as one of the first independent sports governing bodies in order to administer football in the country.[3] The Estonian Football Association affiliated with FIFA in 1923.[4] Following the occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in the Second World War in 1940, the Estonian Football Association was dissolved.[2]

During the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, football was administered by the Soviet Estonian SSR Football Federation as a regional football governing body under the Football Federation of the Soviet Union.[5] During this time, local Estonians were dissuaded from playing football so the majority of football under communist rule was played by Russians living in Estonia.[6]

The Estonian Football Association was reformed in 1988, following the Estonian Declaration of Sovereignty,[7] and rejoined FIFA in 1991.[2][8] In 1992, they joined UEFA and re-established the Meistriliiga as the Estonian national football league.[2]

Due to UEFA broadcasting agreements in the 2020s, the Estonian Football Association are usually required to kick-off national team home games at 21:45 EET, usually resulting in having to negotiate every match with European broadcasters to bring kick-off times earlier.[9]

Controversy

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In 2017, FIFA fined the Estonian Football Association 30,000 Swiss francs (26,000 euros) and gave them a warning because of an incident where Bosnia and Herzegovina fans threw burning material onto the field.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Eesti Jalgpalli Liidu põhikiri" (PDF). jalgpall.ee (in Estonian). EJL. p. 5. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Steady Estonian progress augers well". UEFA. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  3. ^ Breuer, Christoph (2016). Sport Clubs in Europe: A Cross-National Comparative Perspective. Springer. p. 133. ISBN 9783319176352.
  4. ^ Rohr, Bernd (2011). Fußball-Lexikon (in German). Stiebner Verlag. p. 1952. ISBN 9783767911321.
  5. ^ Parming, Tonu (2019). Case Study of a Soviet Republic. Routledge. ISBN 9780429726613.
  6. ^ "Kuidas sai jalgpallist Eestis kommunismi ohver" (in Estonian). Delfi. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Parliament of Estonia declares sovereignty". LA Times. 17 November 1988. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Estonian FA celebrates its centenary". UEFA. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  9. ^ "Late kick off times for Estonian men's national team games due to UEFA regulations". ERR. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Estonian Football Association fined over actions of Bosnia fans".
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