The Estonian Football Association (EJL; ) is the governing body of football, futsal, and beach soccer 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 () organized Estonian football. It became a member of FIFA once again in 1992, following Estonia regaining its independence. The Estonian Football Association affiliated with FIFA in 1923. Following the occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in the Second World War in 1940, the Estonian Football Association was dissolved.
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. 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.
The Estonian Football Association was reformed in 1988, following the Estonian Declaration of Sovereignty, and rejoined FIFA in 1991. In 1992, they joined UEFA and re-established the Meistriliiga as the Estonian national football league.
Controversy
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.
References
External links
- Old Estonian Football Association Official Site
- Estonia at FIFA Site
- Estonia at UEFA Site