At the start of the 2022 season, the European League of Football established the Players Committee to give all players in the Champions League of European football a strong voice. Each of the 17 teams has appointed two representatives, who in turn have elected two spokespersons: Berend Grube (Raiders Tirol) and Daniel Schuhmacher (Cologne Centurions) will take on this important role in the current season.

"The ELF is a players league, that's our focus. Football belongs to the players, not the officials and coaches. The most important component in our league is the players and they have a voice that we need to listen to. Every team in the European League of Football has two representatives on the Players Committee and I can only urge all players to contact this committee if there is something they feel needs to be clarified and the league should be officially informed. After all, rumors or media reports are no basis for the ELF to initiate an investigation. However, anything that is brought to the league's attention via the Players Committee will be investigated," says ELF commissioner Patrick Esume.

Berend Grube, who moved to Innsbruck at the start of the current season after three years with the Hamburg Sea Devils, and Daniel Schuhmacher, who also played for Rhein Fire before his time in Cologne, are in close contact with Commissioner Esume as spokespersons on behalf of the ELF Players Committee.

Players Committee as connecting point between players and league

Esume considers it important to include the players' side in his decisions. "Since its foundation, the European League of Football has grown rapidly in all areas. The league sets the rules of the game and a framework within which everyone has to operate. However, it is clear that it cannot control every step at every location. It is important to understand that the franchises are independent companies with their own management, hierarchies and processes. The players are employed by the franchises, not the league. The Players Committee has been set up to ensure that there is a point of contact for players should problems of any kind arise," emphasizes Esume.

In the 2024 season, 17 teams from nine nations will compete: Berlin Thunder, Hamburg Sea Devils, Rhein Fire, Frankfurt Galaxy, Cologne Centurions, Stuttgart Surge, Munich Ravens (all Germany), Paris Musketeers (France), Milano Seamen (Italy), Raiders Tirol, Vienna Vikings (both Austria), Panthers Wroclaw (Poland), Madrid Bravos, Barcelona Dragons (both Spain), Prague Lions (Czech Republic), Helvetic Mercenaries (Switzerland) and Fehérvár Enthroners (Hungary). The Championship Game will take place on September 22nd in the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen.