Azerbaijan protest to FIFA after Nagorno-Karabakh step up non-FIFA involvement

The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) have written a letter to FIFA protesting against the planned participation of Nagorno-Karabakh in this summer’s ConIFA World Football Cup in Sweden.

Breakaway..the Artsakh Football Association 

The AFFA, who like Azerbaijan view the unrecognized republic as their territory, have also sent letters to the Swedish Football Federation and ConIFA themselves who are expected to release a statement tonight.

The Nagorno-Karabakh representative team made their non-FIFA debut in 2012 when they played Abkhazia twice, drawing 1-1 in the proclaimed Abkhazian capital Sukhumi in September before running out 3-0 victors on home turf in Stepanakert the following month. 

The Abkhazians are also set to play in Sweden but the Georgian Football Federation are not thought to be challenging their participation as the tournament isn't held under the aegis  FIFA’s, and thus they can’t hinder any teams entry.

Should any side drop out of the new competition, which is set for the first week of June, then South Ossetia and the County of Nice are on the waiting list.