SEA DEVILS PLAYERS BEMOAN MANAGEMENT FAILINGS
The build-up to this weekend’s European League of Football Championship Game has been interrupted by revelations from inside one of the organisation’s more beleaguered teams.
The Hamburg Sea Devils have been with the ELF since its formation in 2021, and even reached the inaugural championship game before going to down to the Frankfurt Galaxy, but have slowly fallen down the pecking order and ended the current campaign with a 3-9 record to go just one win better than 2024.
The Sea Devils are not part of the breakaway European Football Alliance faction, thought in large part to be a consequence of being owned by erstwhile ELF CEO and co-founder Zeljko Karajica. With 11 of the 16 ELF teams having thrown their weight behind the potential for a new league, the prospect of Hamburg folding or rethink its plans for 2026 remain uncertain — and that has clearly struck a chord with the current roster, which issued a statement on behalf the players, who felt that they needed ‘to take a public stand’ over failings it saw within the Sea Devils organisation.
“On September 7, the European League of Football Championship Game will take place in Stuttgart, with every team in this league aiming to reach the final and win. Us too. But, besides other teams that wanted to keep us from getting there, there were much bigger internal hurdles,” the missive read.
“During the entire season, not a single salary was paid on time. This repeated failure is one of the reasons why numerous players and coaches left the team before or during the season. For over a month, we have been waiting for our salary for the month of July. The salary for August has not yet arrived. Many players are financially dependent on this job.
“We are deeply disappointed with the management. For months, we have been receiving the same empty promises again and again: “The salary will be transferred today or tomorrow,” “at the latest by the end of the week,” “everything has been cleared.” But nothing happened. Our expenses have not been reimbursed, some of the company cars promised were only made available with months of delay. Gasoline costs and other expenses directly related to our commitment to this franchise remain unpaid.
“We are particularly worried for people who were behind us week after week with heart and soul — staff and medical staff, [who] have partly had to spend their own financial resources to maintain the operation. This is not only a sign of incredible loyalty, but also a sign of terrible Management for the leadership of this team.
Despite all these circumstances, we would like to express our thanks. For all the Fans behind the team who haven’t let us down. You have come to our games, not been deterred by the uncertainty, and you have supported us in a way that is unique in this league.
“We players deeply regret that we were unable to offer you the season we and you had hoped for. Our training conditions were simply not professional: only from week three were playing field markers available on the training field. Training equipment was missing, we have not received team clothing to date. Before away games, the buses often left late, which had a direct impact on our preparation and performance.
“After last season, there were discussions between players and management, in which we put in numerous concrete suggestions for improvement. However, the situation has not improved, on the contrary: it is worse than ever.
“Hamburg is a football city. People here live and love this sport. The ELF needs this location, but it needs it with a team that is professionally managed. With an organization that respects its players, coaches, staff and fans. With a management that takes responsibility, doesn’t sign contracts that it doesn’t comply with. The current team cannot and will not return under these circumstances next year.
“It’s time for a new beginning. For Hamburg. For the Sea Devils. For football.”
A damning indictment indeed, and not dissimilar to the complaints about the ELF as a whole that led to the official formation of the EFA, which began with eight teams and quickly grew to 11. Of the 16 ELF teams in 2025, only Hamburg, semi-finalists Munich and embattled minnows Cologne and Helvetic remain on the outside, regardless of whether they want to look in or not. Only the Fehérvár Enthroners have made moves to secure a future outside of a continental competition, and continue negotiations for a possible entry to the top tier of the Austrian national league — a competition it has so far only been allowed to participate in via lower divisions.