SKENDERBEU: UEFA'S LONGEST-EVER BAN

Almost a decade ago, a scandal shook Albanian football as Skenderbeu were found guilty of match-fixing on an unprecedented scale and banned by UEFA for 10 years.

It is the longest ban in European football history, but Albania’s eight-time champions could return to the continental stage in 2028 if they finish high enough next term.

So what exactly did Skenderbeu do to make Manchester City look like absolute saints? How has their conduct impacted Albanian football’s reputation? And which other European club equalled their record only to have their ban reduced by three years on appeal?

Plus, we pay a visit to the beautiful Air Albania Stadium to take in a fiery Tirana derby, and we announce The Sweeper's partnership with Futbology which played a crucial role in planning the trip!

Join us on for a deep dive into the newly announced AFC Nations League, which is set to launch in 2030 and will reshape Asia’s World Cup qualification process, and a look at the Millwall player who became a star for Indonesia in their ASEAN Cup success.

You can download Futbology here.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

00:54 – Skenderbeu’s 10-year ban

04:46 – Albania’s Flamingo Revolution and corruption problems

08:53 – Albania’s unusual league format

11:43 – Futbology’s continental badges

15:25 – Tirana derby live report

26:22 – Tourist highlights from Albania