Country Profile - Azerbaijan
Name: Azerbaijan
Population: 10,135,373
Capital: Baku
Accession to the CoE: 2001
Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events (2016):
Date of Signature: 29/11/2016
Date of Ratification: 11/12/2018
Date of entry into force: 01/02/2019
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Coordination arrangements
Presentation of the country's main government and sports institutions (please insert the links to the websites)
- Ministry of Youth and Sport
- Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Ministry of Emergency Situations
- Special State Protection Service
- Ministry of Health
Independent sports safety bodies
- National independent safety bodies: not specified
Main sports/Sport activities
Main sports in the country (by number of members)
- Football
- Judo
- Wrestling
- Chess
- Gymnastics
National Olympic Committee
- Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee
Main sports federations and leagues
- The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA)
- Azerbaijan Judo Federation
- Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation
- Azerbaijan Chess Federation
- Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation
National football authorities
Relevant good practices in the S4 domain
Information not available
Major sports events
Last major sporting events organised since 2000 and key elements of their legacy
- 2012: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
- 2015: European Games
- 2016: Formula-1 European Grand Prix
- 2016: 42nd World Chess Olympiad
- 2016: UEFA European U-17 Championship
- 2017: Islamic Solidarity Games
- 2019: EYOF
- 2019: UEFA Europa League final
- 2021: UEFA Euro 2020
- 2022: 28th FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships
- 2022: Judo Grand Slam
- 2023: FIDE World Chess Championship
- 2023: The 53rd ISSF World Shooting Championships
- 2023: World Taekwondo Championships
- 2023: Judo Grand Slam
- 2023: 36th CISM World Military Wrestling Championship
Future major sporting events organised and/or co-organised within the next 5 years
- 2024: Trampoline World Cup
- 2024: Artistic Gymnastics World Cup
- 2024: Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup
- 2024: ISSF Shooting World Cup
- 2024: European U23 Wrestling Championship
- 2024: F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- 2024: Judo Grand Slam
- 2025: European Karate Championships
- 2027: Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships
The country's main sporting competitions
- Wrestling
- Judo
- Football
- Gymnastic
- Chess-country championships
Supporter organisations
National supporter organisations or National team supporter organisations
Sports Volunteers and Fans" Public Union was registered at the Ministry of Justice on April 19, 2022. The main objective of the organization is to increase participation of volunteers and fans in sports events.
The organization closely engaged in the implementation of local, regional and international sports competitions and events, and provides voluntary support.
Legal framework
National legal framework on sports safety and security, including specific legal provisions on:
List of main laws and regulations
- Law “On Physical Training and Sprt”
- Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Police”
- Law on the “Fight against the use of doping agents or methods in sport”
- Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Fire Safety and Regulation on Fire Safety of Sport Facilities, Buildings and Devices”
- Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
National/local coordination bodies
- Ministry of Youth and Sport
- Ministry of Internal Affairs
Share of safety and security responsibilities (inside/outside of sports venues)
(PFL Regulation – 9.3)
Safety and security in tournaments organized by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA )is carried out by AFFA cooperating with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Moreover special security services are used on the basis of a service contract for the purpose of protecting the entrance to the stadiums and some objects in the stadiums.
Throughout the games organized by the Professional Football League, security is provided by the owner of the field in accordance with the League's regulations. The host club undertakes and is responsible for all game security.
Stewarding/Private security
Information not available
Sports venues safety regulations, licensing, certification and inspection
(PFL Regulation – 9.5)
Before the game, during the game, after the game security in the territory of stadium is provided by the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Azerbaijan. For this reason, before the game, during the game, after the game, the presence of the club's security guards in the dressing rooms of the stadiums, in the corridor, around the judges' room, in the technical zone is prohibited (the issuance of a "Zone-1" card to the person presented by the club as a security manager can be discussed by the PFL).
If police officers, Ambulance and State Fire Protection (the latter does not apply to League I and Substitute league games) service personnel do not arrive at the stadium by the scheduled time of the game, the AFFA representative shall not allow the game to begin. At this time, 45 minutes are given to eliminate the deficiencies (the time determined by the referee for the teams' warm-up exercises is not included in the 45-minute period). If the problem is not resolved within this period, the game is considered incomplete and the home team is given a technical defeat.
Sport-related hate speech, racism and other types of discrimination
AFFA DISCIPLINARY CODE for the 2023/24 football season
Article 48. Racism
48.1. A football player who commits humiliating and insulting actions or expressions against any person due to his race, religion or ethnicity will be suspended for 4 games and the club will be fined 3000 (three thousand) manats.
48.2. If similar events are committed by an official, that person will be banned from entering the stadium for 6 games and the club will be fined 5000 (five thousand) manats.
48.3. If similar events are committed by fans, the club will be fined 2000 (two thousand) manats.
48.4. If signs of racism are found in the banners placed in the stands, the host club will be fined 3500 (three thousand five hundred) manats. If a similar incident occurs in the stands where the visiting team's fans are located, then the visiting team will be fined 3500 (three thousand five hundred) manats. Depending on the degree of these actions, the Disciplinary Committee may impose more severe sanctions.
48.5. If racist actions are committed by team members or officials during the game, the referees must stop the game, postpone it for a certain time or abandon the game. According to the three-step directive:
- the game will be stopped and a warning will be issued;
- the game will be postponed for a while;
- after coordination with security personnel, if racist behavior continues, the game will be suspended without continuation.
48.6. If the club's fans show racist behavior, a partial closure of the stadium should be imposed on the part of the stadium where the racist incident took place. As a second punishment, in addition to a fine, the sanction of complete closure of the stadium should be applied. Additionally, fans who exhibit racist behavior should be banned from future matches.
Pyrotechnics and other forbidden items
AFFA DISCIPLINARY CODE for the 2023/24 football season
Article 52. Throwing objects into the field and using pyrotechnic devices
52.1. The host club is fined in the amount of 800 (eight hundred) manats for throwing objects on the football field and running track by the fan. If this incident happens in the tribune reserved for the visiting team, then the visiting team will be fined 800 (eight hundred) manats. If the event does not take place in the sector previously reserved for clubs, then the home team is fined 800 (eight hundred) manats.
52.2. The host club is fined 1500 (one thousand five hundred) manats for the use of pyrotechnic, incendiary or smoking devices. If this incident happens in the tribune reserved for the visiting team, then the visiting team is fined in the amount of 1500 (one thousand five hundred) manats. If the event does not take place in the sector previously reserved for clubs, then the host club is fined 1500 (one thousand five hundred) manats.
52.3. If an object thrown onto the field causes injuries to any person (referees, players, other persons), the club supported by the fans who committed it will be fined with the amount of 5000 (five thousand) manats. If the event does not take place in the sector previously reserved for clubs, then the host club is fined with the amount of 5000 (five thousand) manats.
After investigating the incident, the Disciplinary Committee may adopt more serious sanctions in addition to a monetary fine.
52.4. An official who throws an object in the direction of the opponent's technical zone, fans or the field will be excluded from 4 games, and the club will be fined in the amount of 3500 (three thousand five hundred) manats.
Customer service and role of supporters and local communities
Information not available
Social-educational preventative measures
Information not available
Alcohol/drug policy
Information not available
Specific sport-related misbehaviour typified as crime
Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Article 224. Use or promotion of the use of doping means and (or) methods
For using or promoting the use of doping means and (or) methods, individuals are fined from fifty to one hundred manats, and officials are fined from one hundred to two hundred manats.
Article 226. Violation of doping control rules
For violation of doping control rules by physical education and sports organisations, athletes, coaches, doctors and other specialists - a fine of one hundred to two hundred manats is imposed.
Specific sport-related misbehaviour typified as misdemeanour
Information not available
Exclusion policy (banning orders/exit bans)
Information not available
Measures taken/envisaged by States to meet the objectives of the Convention
Most of the provisions of the Convention are already included in the national legislation. The National Committee for the Fight against violence in sport is overseeing and coordinating the national approach in this regard and a specific national strategy will be adopted soon.
National strategies/Policies
Existence of specific safety, security and/or service public policies
Information not available
Existence of a national strategy on security, safety, and services
Information not available
Existence of (a) regional/ local strategy(ies) on security, safety, and services
Information not available
Major Risks and Incidents
Major risks and trends on violence and disorder
Information not available
Last major incidents which seem relevant and enlightening on the need to adopt an integrated approach to safety, security and service
Information not available
Evolution of total incidents over the last 10 years
Information not available
Last updated on December 2023