European Football Alliance

The European Football Alliance was founded in July 2025 and is the successor organization to the ELF Football Franchise Association.

The European Football Alliance is determined to work towards a professional, transparent and financially sustainable future for the league and its franchises, as well as ensuring transparency, fairness and accountability in the governance of the league for the benefit of the franchises and all stakeholders in the league.

The EFA was modeled after other major sports leagues to ensure fair representation and advocacy for all franchise teams within the league and focuses on key issues such as operational transparency, equal treatment of all franchises and revenue sharing to promote a cooperative and successful league field.

The founding members of the EFA

• Frankfurt Galaxy
• Madrid Bravos
• Paris Musketeers
• Prague Lions
• Raiders Tirol
• Rhein Fire
• Vienna Vikings
• Panthers Wrocław

Additional members of the EFA

On July 22nd 2025, Nordic Storm announced that it had also joined the EFA. They are the first team to take this step since the association was founded.

On August 13th 2025 Berlin Thunder and Stuttgart Surge announced they also joined the EFA.

• Nordic Storm
• Berlin Thunder
• Stuttgart Surge

Background and Formation

The EFA was publicly announced in early July 2025. According to a statement, the alliance aims to address systemic problems within the ELF’s structure and governance.

The group expressed concern over a lack of financial transparency, operational inconsistencies, and the league’s inability to secure lasting commercial partnerships despite the growing popularity of American football in Europe.

Ultimatum to the ELF

In July 2025, the EFA issued a clear ultimatum to the ELF leadership, demanding substantial reforms before the ELF Championship Game scheduled for 7 September 2025. According to EFA spokesperson and Rhein Fire co-owner Martin Wagner, the alliance had evolved from an informal group (formerly known as the FFA) into a formal legal entity, registered with the German Patent and Trademark Office. This step enabled the group to act independently in the market, including hiring consultants, representatives, or launching commercial activities.

While the creation of an independent league is described as "theoretically possible", the EFA’s immediate goal is to prompt change within the ELF structure. Wagner criticized ongoing issues such as a lack of transparency, self-serving decisions by the league, poor communication, and a failure to address long-standing concerns raised by franchises. He cited examples such as missed matchups like Rhein Fire vs. Frankfurt Galaxy not appearing on the 2025 schedule and operational decisions that did not reflect franchise interests.

The alliance set a deadline: by the ELF Championship Game, clarity must be reached on the league’s future direction and governance. If no sufficient changes are made, Wagner noted, the EFA will be forced to enter what he called an "alternative mode". He added, "We want to keep playing football - but not under this umbrella."

Reactions from Franchise Representatives

Following the alliance’s initial statements, various representatives from ELF franchises made individual public statements elaborating on their positions.

Madrid Bravos

Jaime Martinez Lostao, General Manager of the Madrid Bravos, addressed the situation in several interviews. While the brief English-language statement emphasized the need for change, he provided more detailed remarks in Spanish-language interviews.

Frankfurt Galaxy

Representatives from Frankfurt Galaxy shared their concerns in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, criticizing the ELF’s management and describing structural and financial issues that have accumulated over several seasons.

Galaxy’s managing director Eric Reutemann stated that the EFA was formed as a reaction to the ELF's repeated failure to meet contractual and financial obligations, especially regarding revenue transparency from TV and sponsorship deals. According to Reutemann, what began as a start-up has evolved into a scale-up, but the league’s structure did not adapt accordingly.

He specifically pointed to merchandising as a source of conflict. For years, franchises were prohibited from selling products independently; the ELF handled merchandising centrally - often inefficiently. Deliveries arrived late, sometimes after the season had already started, resulting in revenue loss. Only in the current season were teams allowed to manage their merchandising autonomously, now generating six-figure revenues.

Reutemann also criticized the lack of transparency in sponsorship and ticketing agreements, noting that franchises had no insight into how deals were structured, despite being obligated to comply with related conditions during home games.

He emphasized that while teams shoulder the financial and operational risks, they lack any real influence or structural security within the league. Efforts made by franchises since 2021 - including proposals, internal meetings, and written concepts - had yielded no substantial reforms.

The EFA’s goals, according to Reutemann, include transparent governance, financial fairness, professional standards, and real co-determination. Without these changes, the imbalance between financial risk and control would be unsustainable.

Reutemann also expressed concern over the growing performance gap within the league. He cited examples of teams traveling with dangerously low roster numbers and receiving inadequate operational support. Teams with close ties to ELF ownership - such as the Hamburg Sea Devils - appeared to be favored, while others struggled with competitive and financial viability.

Finally, Reutemann confirmed that a withdrawal from the ELF is not off the table for Frankfurt Galaxy if no binding reforms are introduced by the end of the season. However, he emphasized a continued willingness to engage in dialogue to develop European football sustainably.

Vienna Vikings

Robin Lumsden, co-owner of the Vienna Vikings, voiced his opinion during a television interview:

"We want to make a change. We want to establish [American] football in Europe for the long term. We Vienna Vikings have been in Europe for a long time, but this ELF project of playing at a high level in a European professional league must not die now and must not fail because of the vested interests of certain people."

Stuttgart Surge

Unlike the eight founding members of the European Football Alliance (EFA), Stuttgart Surge has not joined the alliance. Team CEO Suni Musa offered a more reserved assessment of the current situation within the ELF.

While acknowledging that not everything in the league works perfectly, Musa stated that Stuttgart Surge does not support open rebellion: "We do not agree with everything that happens in the league, but we are also not pushing against it." He emphasized that the ELF remains a good idea and that its development requires time and a different approach.

Musa expressed understanding for the frustration voiced by the EFA teams but warned against rushing toward radical restructuring or an elite breakaway league. Instead, he advocated for patience: "The ELF is currently standing still to some extent. The upcoming season will determine where things go. If we stay patient, it will pay off."

He rejected the idea of questioning the ELF's integrity or its will to create the best possible framework for teams. In his view, every new franchise and league faces growing pains, especially during challenging economic times. Musa stressed that teams are ultimately responsible for their own progress and infrastructure: "In the end, it comes down to how well you manage your own development."

Stuttgart Surge is not involved in the ongoing discussions between the EFA and the league and considers itself neutral in the matter.

Surge is now a part of the EFA. - 13.08.2025

Nordic Storm

Nordic Storm has not joined the European Football Alliance. In a televised interview with ProSieben MAXX, team representative Michael Planeta expressed a position similar to that of Stuttgart Surge.

While acknowledging challenges within the ELF structure, Planeta emphasized the need for patience and internal development rather than confrontation. He underscored the league's achievements in growing the sport across Europe and called for constructive cooperation instead of division.

Nordic Storm remains outside the EFA and has not taken a public stance in favor of league withdrawal.

Update: Nordic Storm finally joined the EFA on July 22nd

Response from the League

The European League of Football has responded cautiously to the criticism raised by the EFA and its member franchises. In various statements provided to the press, league officials acknowledged the concerns but defended the league’s direction and structure.

ELF Commissioner Patrick Esume expressed understanding for the frustrations of some franchises and emphasized his ongoing efforts to communicate with all teams, regardless of alliance affiliation. He stated that the league "takes all criticism very seriously" and is working continuously to improve internal processes.

In a separate interview, ELF CEO Zeljko Karajica rejected the EFA's accusations and insisted that the league had made significant progress since its founding in 2021. He highlighted the league's international exposure, growing partner network, and global fan interest. Karajica also reiterated the league’s belief in centralized structures while maintaining that franchises remain independently operated.

So far, the ELF has not issued a formal, unified public response to the creation of the European Football Alliance.

ELF Management changes

The ELF announced a strategic leadership change aimed at driving future growth. Founder Zeljko Karajica will be stepping down from his operational duties at the end of the 2025 season, with his responsibilities being transferred to the new Co-CEO and CFO, Ingo Schiller.

Schiller, an experienced sports executive who previously worked for Hertha BSC, was unanimously appointed by the league's shareholders. His main task is to engage in discussions with the 16 franchises to develop a stable and sustainable model for all stakeholders, while also addressing the concerns of the European Football Alliance (EFA). According to the announcements, Schiller's approach will be to "listen a lot and act quickly" to secure the ELF's future.

EFA reaction to management changes

The EFA remains skeptical despite the appointment of Ingo Schiller as the new ELF Co-CEO. The alliance has signaled that it will continue to develop its own solutions and structures. An unnamed EFA team owner expressed doubts about Schiller's ability to stabilize the league, particularly since Schiller had not contacted the alliance to initiate cooperation. There is also skepticism that the lingering influence of former co-founder Zeljko Karajica will foster effective collaboration.

Consequently, the EFA has accelerated its plans to form a rival league, which is scheduled to launch in 2026. The alliance, which is expected to consist of nine current ELF teams and some non-ELF clubs, will pursue an NFL-style governance model focused on shared revenue and transparency. A recent mediation attempt involving EFA representatives, Ingo Schiller, and Patrick Esume failed to bridge the divisions. The EFA continues to criticize the ELF for its "unattractive structures," financial instability, and an unwillingness to resolve issues. This move by the EFA threatens to fragment fanbases and sponsor interest and could lead to a significant restructuring of professional American football in Europe.

Further reactions

Michael Eschlböck, AFBÖ president

In an interview with the Rheinische Post (German, behind paywall), Michael Eschlböck, President of the Austrian American Football Federation (AFBÖ), voiced strong criticism of both the European League of Football (ELF) and the newly founded European Football Alliance (EFA).

Eschlböck described the launch of the ELF as the beginning of a "gold rush era" in European football, driven more by commercial ambitions than long-term development. He referred to the league as “a private toy,” noting its lack of recognition by any international federation, absence of WADA compliance, and missing transfer protocols for amateur players. His proposal for symbolic compensation to grassroots clubs for player development was rejected by the league.

He also expressed skepticism toward the EFA, stating that it consists of the same people with the same mindset, merely under a new name. In his view, any future league structure must actively involve national federations, respect existing amateur systems, and commit to genuine development rather than acting as a profit-oriented business venture. Without structural reform and mutual respect, Eschlböck sees little hope for sustainable growth in European football.

See also

• European League of Football