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ELF and EFA Strike Deal to Reunify European Pro Football in 2026

Control moves to a team-led Board of Governors to tackle long-running concerns over transparency and stability.

Overview

  • The agreement establishes a strategic cooperation to bring the split competitions back under one structure beginning with the 2026 season.
  • Teams and shareholders will steer key decisions through a Board of Governors covering planning, budgeting, licensing, media rights and commercial strategy.
  • Former ELF chief and majority shareholder Zeljko Karajica will step back from league leadership and operational roles during the transition.
  • Joint working groups will now define league makeup, competition format and the 2026 schedule, with participants to be announced in the coming weeks.
  • The move follows a season of upheaval that saw eleven franchises form the EFA and Stuttgart Surge file for insolvency, raising unresolved questions about club participation.