EFA ‘SPLIT’ ADDS CONFUSION TO EUROPEAN LANDSCAPE

Amid the excitement of the European Football Alliance’s announcement that it would be adding franchises in both London and Milan was tacit confirmation that there was division in the ranks.

Reading between the lines of last Friday’s EFA press release, it became apparent that not every country that hosts a franchise was listed when the organisation ran through its ‘member nations’, with Poland and Austria notably absent from what the EFA referred to as a ‘truly pan-European alliance’. Speculation of a rift was strengthened further when it became apparent that, of the four German franchises aligned with the EFA, only the Frankfurt Galaxy reported the London/Milan announcement.

With the European League of Football adamant that it intends to continue operating in 2026, the latest developments naturally create the spectre of not two rival leagues, but three next season — although few expect this to be the final outcome. The EFA divide appears quite clearly to fall between those franchises under American ownership and those with Europeans at the helm, amid rumours that there has been a breakdown over the way that teams should be funded. Given that the perilous financial situation that some teams faced in 2025, and that it was one of the factors given as a reason for the breakaway from the ELF, it seems curious that the members of the EFA now can’t agree on a way forward, arguing over whether the proposed NFL model is appropriate after all.

While there is naturally some concern that the European scene could fracture further, there are also suggestions that one side of the divide could reunite with the ELF, presumably as long as the existing league is under new management given the push to oust the previous regime.

It is notable that the EFA’s announcement of a London franchise included the involvement of media mogul David Gandler, who is among the few who have the potential to rival the ELF’s media and TV deals. As an investor in the ELF last season, however, it would have been logical for him to remain aligned with that league instead of swapping sides — on the assumption that the American owned teams are the ones most likely to go their own way.

Although Gridiron has reached out for comment on the situation, none has yet been forthcoming.