American football has been played on European soil for more than 30 years. In 1972, four NATO-based teams
played the first American football tournament in Europe near their bases on the western coast of Italy. By 1976,
individual teams began sprouting up throughout the continent. The first known American football club was
established in Austria -- The First Austrian American Football Club (FAAFC) -- on June 11, 1976. Later that same
year, an Italian team from Verona played a game against a U.S. Army team in Italy. Italy was also the site of the first
game involving only European teams as the Pink Panthers from Piacenza and the Frogs from Bergamo -- two
Italian teams -- met in 1977. At approximately the same time, American football began to spread northward to
Germany. The Frankfurt Lions held their first game in 1977, and in 1979, the first German League was
established. The American Football Verband Deutschland (German American Football Federation) was organized
in 1980 setting off a chain of similar organizations throughout the continent.
The first international games between two federation teams took place in 1981 when teams representing the
Italian and German federations played one game in Frankfurt and a second game in Cologne before 4,500 and
13,000 spectators respectively.
Five countries formed the American European Football Federation (AEFF) on July 31, 1982. Finland, Italy,
Germany, Austria, and France organized the first European Championship in 1983 in Castel Giorgio, Italy. The
Italian team defeated the Finnish team, 18-6, to become the first European champions. Two years later in 1985,
Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Great Britain joined the league, prompting the AEFF to change its name to
simply the European Football League (EFL). Eleven years later the EFL has evolved into the European Federation
of American Football (EFAF) with 17 full member American football federations in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.
Overall, there are more than 35,000 players throughout Europe participating on more than 800 clubs. Germany
lays claim to the largest federation, the American Football Verband Deutschland (AFVD) with 345 teams and
16,500 players.
played the first American football tournament in Europe near their bases on the western coast of Italy. By 1976,
individual teams began sprouting up throughout the continent. The first known American football club was
established in Austria -- The First Austrian American Football Club (FAAFC) -- on June 11, 1976. Later that same
year, an Italian team from Verona played a game against a U.S. Army team in Italy. Italy was also the site of the first
game involving only European teams as the Pink Panthers from Piacenza and the Frogs from Bergamo -- two
Italian teams -- met in 1977. At approximately the same time, American football began to spread northward to
Germany. The Frankfurt Lions held their first game in 1977, and in 1979, the first German League was
established. The American Football Verband Deutschland (German American Football Federation) was organized
in 1980 setting off a chain of similar organizations throughout the continent.
The first international games between two federation teams took place in 1981 when teams representing the
Italian and German federations played one game in Frankfurt and a second game in Cologne before 4,500 and
13,000 spectators respectively.
Five countries formed the American European Football Federation (AEFF) on July 31, 1982. Finland, Italy,
Germany, Austria, and France organized the first European Championship in 1983 in Castel Giorgio, Italy. The
Italian team defeated the Finnish team, 18-6, to become the first European champions. Two years later in 1985,
Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Great Britain joined the league, prompting the AEFF to change its name to
simply the European Football League (EFL). Eleven years later the EFL has evolved into the European Federation
of American Football (EFAF) with 17 full member American football federations in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.
Overall, there are more than 35,000 players throughout Europe participating on more than 800 clubs. Germany
lays claim to the largest federation, the American Football Verband Deutschland (AFVD) with 345 teams and
16,500 players.
| lll |
| lll |
| Take Your Game To Europe |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| © 2008 World Sports Scouting is in association with Athletic Enterprises |
| World Sports Scouting |
|
| World Sports Scouting |
Athletic Enterprises Presents
| Representing Athletes Worldwide |