Firenze Red Lions and Italian Football League agree on framework for player recruitment

The Firenze Red Lions have reached an agreement with the Italian Football League (IFL) that sets out clear and transparent rules for recruiting players from clubs affiliated with the national league. The agreement is an important step for the Red Lions as they prepare to compete in AFLE’s inaugural season, and it reflects the values of respect and responsibility that the league stands for.

Clear rules, shared responsibility

The agreement between the Red Lions and the IFL establishes specific time windows and shared criteria for the recruitment of Italian players. This means that both sides now operate under a common framework that protects the interests of athletes, their clubs, and the national championship.

The Red Lions have committed to conducting all scouting and recruiting activities in a responsible and transparent manner. This includes maintaining open communication with the clubs involved and fully respecting the agreed rules at every stage of the process.

Respect for Italian football

A key part of this agreement is the Red Lions’ recognition of the IFL’s central role in the development of American football in Italy. The national league has built and supported the game in the country for many years, and the Red Lions have made clear that they want to work alongside that structure, not against it.

All recruitment activities will be carried out with full respect for the sporting and contractual commitments of athletes, as well as the organizational needs of the Italian championship. Players will not be approached outside of the agreed time windows, and clubs will be kept informed throughout the process.

New opportunities for Italian players

For Italian athletes, this agreement opens a structured and regulated pathway to professional football at the European level. The Red Lions are building a competitive project in Florence, and they want to give talented Italian players the opportunity to be part of it.

By establishing clear rules with the IFL, both sides ensure that players who make the step up to AFLE level do so in a way that is fair to everyone involved. The agreement creates a foundation that benefits Italian football as a whole.

The Red Lions enter the 2026 AFLE season with a clear identity: a franchise that is ambitious on the field and responsible off it. This agreement with the IFL is a reflection of exactly that.