One thing was clear in mid-September when the FFA went public with a press release on the eve of the final game between Rhein Fire and the Vienna Vikings (it had been founded at the beginning of 2024): There was and is no palace revolt planned, no revolution. Rather, the eleven clubs want to tackle the most pressing problems with one voice and together with the league – problems such as the question of the distribution of financial proceeds and risks within the ELF.
As a reminder, these eleven mostly well-known and successful franchises are organized in the FFA: Rhein Fire, Barcelona Dragons, Fehérvár Entroners, Frankfurt Galaxy, Madrid Bravos, Milano Seamen, Paris Musketeers, Prague Lions, Raiders Tirol, Vienna Vikings and the Wroclaw Panthers.
The exchange “did not produce any usable results”
So if you want to work together, it helps to talk to each other and exchange ideas. That’s why we asked: Has there been an exchange between the FFA and the league office? Answer from the FFA: “Yes, but unfortunately this has not yet led to any answers or measures from the league management and therefore has not produced any usable results.” Dissatisfaction with a meeting cannot be expressed more clearly in one sentence.
But it’s just the perception on one side of the table. That’s why we asked the ELF, of course. The answer: evasive. “The ELF is in daily contact with the owners and managers of all franchises to work on moving football forward in Europe and further developing our league. “In this context, all relevant topics are discussed, decisions are made and implemented together,” said an ELF spokesman.
The sum of both reactions sounds like there is still a long way to go to find a consensus between the league office and large parts of the participating franchises on the “how” of the further development of European football and the internal ELF construct.
“Amsterdam makes a very professional impression”
Former Admirals GM Ronald Buys also said at this point: “A few weeks ago we had a discussion here about whether we should form an organization and join the FFA. Not as a member of the ELF, but as someone who clearly has the same agenda as the teams that have come together in the FFA, which is to know what the opportunities and risks are in this league. It has not yet been finally clarified whether we will join. We are definitely keeping an eye on developments.”
So, dear FFA, how do you see the exchange with the Admirals from your side? “There is an open and transparent exchange with Amsterdam, which makes a very professional impression,” said an FFA spokesman when asked. Amsterdam asked clear and understandable questions about the economic risk distribution within the league, as these primarily lie with the franchises. “After a thorough review, Amsterdam has judged their entry to be economically unjustifiable at this point in time. The FFA will continue the exchange with the ownership group of Amsterdam, even if they do not initially become a member of the FFA.”
So if there are new negotiations with the league at some point, Dutch investors should be well informed.
