The Albanian Football Association has kept faith with Italian coaching methods by appointing former AC Milan and Roma defender Christian Panucci as Gianni De Biasi's successor.

The 44-year-old former full-back, who played for Chelsea on loan at the turn of the century, was announced as the head of the national team on Wednesday morning.

Panucci -- briefly Fabio Capello's assistant in Russia -- follows in the footsteps of Treviso-born De Biasi, who secured Albania's surprise qualification for Euro...

TIRANA, Albania -- Albania's football federation has stripped Skenderbeu of the club championship won in the 2015-16 season for "influencing results contrary to the sports ethics."

The federation ethical committee also decided on Friday to fine Skenderbeu 2 million leks ($16,660) and deduct 12 points from last season.

The decision did not mention whether the 2016 title automatically goes to second-placed club Partizani.

Last season, UEFA banned Skenderbeu for a year from European competition based...

TIRANA, Albania -- Gianni De Biasi resigned Wednesday as Albania coach with immediate effect.

The Italian, who steered Albania to their first major tournament at last year's European Championship, had said Tuesday he would not renew his contract when it expires in October.

At a news conference on Wednesday, an emotional De Biasi announced he would leave immediately and read out a letter in which he said he "thought long and hard" about his decision but is leaving for "the good and growth of our...

The Albanian football federation has condemned an apparent match-fixing attempt in a recent game between two clubs.

A show on private television Top Channel, Fiks Fare, broadcast a phone call of a person trying to bribe a Patizani player before the team played Kukesi last week. Both clubs were at the top of the league with equal points. The match in Tirana ended 1-1.

A federation statement on Friday "strongly denounced" the bribe and called on the Partizani club to go the authorities. It also said...

FIFA has fined the Albanian Football Association 100,000 Swiss francs (£78,000) for the misbehaviour of its national team's fans during last month's World Cup qualifier against Italy in Palermo.

The hosts won the Group G game 2-0 but it was held up for eight minutes when Albania supporters threw fireworks, flares and smoke bombs on the pitch. Italian fans also set off flares during the game and the Italian FA has been fined nearly £12,000.

Albania has been fined by FIFA for fan incidents...