The Lebanese Football Association (LFA;
Arabic: الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم,
romanized: Al-Ittiḥād Al-Lubnānī Likurat Al-Qadam;
French: Fédération Libanaise de Football) is the governing body of
association football in
Lebanon. Formed in 1933, it is a member of both
FIFA and the
AFC. It is also one of the founding members of the
WAFF, joining in its inception in 2001.
History
In 1931
Khalil Hilmi, a member of
Riyadi Beirut, attempted to form a federation.[1] However, the proposal failed as
Nahda opposed its formation.[1] On 22 March 1933, representatives of thirteen football clubs gathered in the Minet El Hosn district in
Beirut to form the Lebanese Football Association (LFA).[2] Hussein Sejaan was the LFA's first president.[3] Lebanon was one of the first nations in the
Middle East to establish an administrative body for
association football.[a][4] The LFA joined
FIFA in 1936 and the
AFC in 1964.[5] In 2001, the LFA joined the
WAFF as one of its founding members.[6]
In 1985, in the midst of the
Lebanese Civil War, the LFA was divided into two administrations: Western, headed by
Nabil Al Raei, and Eastern, headed by
Hamid Khoury.[7] FIFA froze Lebanon's membership until 5 February 1987, when FIFA president
Sepp Blatter sent a
telex letter to the LFA recognizing the elections of 2 May 1985, which had elected Al Raei as the LFA president.[7]
The Lebanese Football Association (LFA;
Arabic: الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم,
romanized: Al-Ittiḥād Al-Lubnānī Likurat Al-Qadam;
French: Fédération Libanaise de Football) is the governing body of
association football in
Lebanon. Formed in 1933, it is a member of both
FIFA and the
AFC. It is also one of the founding members of the
WAFF, joining in its inception in 2001.
History
In 1931
Khalil Hilmi, a member of
Riyadi Beirut, attempted to form a federation.[1] However, the proposal failed as
Nahda opposed its formation.[1] On 22 March 1933, representatives of thirteen football clubs gathered in the Minet El Hosn district in
Beirut to form the Lebanese Football Association (LFA).[2] Hussein Sejaan was the LFA's first president.[3] Lebanon was one of the first nations in the
Middle East to establish an administrative body for
association football.[a][4] The LFA joined
FIFA in 1936 and the
AFC in 1964.[5] In 2001, the LFA joined the
WAFF as one of its founding members.[6]
In 1985, in the midst of the
Lebanese Civil War, the LFA was divided into two administrations: Western, headed by
Nabil Al Raei, and Eastern, headed by
Hamid Khoury.[7] FIFA froze Lebanon's membership until 5 February 1987, when FIFA president
Sepp Blatter sent a
telex letter to the LFA recognizing the elections of 2 May 1985, which had elected Al Raei as the LFA president.[7]