Most sports across the world are discussing the resumption of their seasons. Soccer games are returning in Europe, sports leagues are planning their games for the rest of the year, and even the NFL schedule is ready for the season’s start in September.
When it comes to American football in Europe, though, the news is not that bright. After a video conference involving 19 IFAF European member states, held on May 28, the sport’s highest governing body in Europe has agreed to postpone the Men’s Tackle European Championship from this year to next.
Men’s European Championship Postponed, GFL Returns in September
News Not Good Enough for IFAF Europe
The first wave of the pandemic has seemingly passed in many European countries, enough for the authorities to allow sports teams to return to the field. There is, in turn, no clear and unequivocal talk about a full return of American football in Europe and of European citizens freely traveling across state borders, a recently published announcement by the IFAF shows. Thus, the member states of IFAF Europe have decided to postpone all games in the final stages of the Men’s Tackle European Championship to next year. The semifinals and finals of the competition will be held in August and October, respectively.
The IFAF will reconvene on February 1st, 2021, to confirm whether the public health situation allows for the dates planned for the European Championships next year.
GFL Returns in September
The German Football League (GFL) is perhaps the most followed American football championship outside North America. It has North and South conferences, 14 teams, two tiers – GFL and GFL 2 – and a final called the German Bowl, at its 42nd edition this year.
The GFL, like pretty much every other European sports league, has suspended its activity as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Now that the first wave of the pandemic seems to have passed in Germany, and other sports are returning (Germany’s association football season resumed in mid-May), the GFL is also set to return.
After a two-hour video conference involving all of the clubs, the GFL has decided that it will resume its 2020 season this September. All teams will have sufficient time to train in August. This decision is still provisional, though – if the situation doesn’t change until July 26, the season will proceed as agreed.
The GFL will not relegate any teams from the first tier to the second tier this year. The champions of GFL 2 will have the chance to decide whether to play in the first tier or the second. Plus, all teams will have the option to opt-out of the fall season of the league.
“I am particularly pleased with the unanimity of the vote,” GFL spokesperson Carsten Dalkowski said. “This is now a framework we can all work with. Of course, a lot can still happen between now and September. We hope, however, that by then the incidence of infection will be under control so that full-contact training will be possible in time, imported players will be able to enter the country, and spectators will be allowed to attend matches. But we can’t ask anyone to anticipate this now. So we’re preparing for all options and we’re going to change course in any direction at any time if that becomes necessary.”
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