Navi guy at 07:08, 17 January 2026

2026-01-17T07:08:55Z

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{{Short description|American football league}}
{{Update|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title = EFLI
| last_season = 2012 EFLI season
| logo = Elite Football League of India Logo.png
| pixels = 200px
| sport = American football
| founded = {{start date and age|5 August 2011}}<ref>{{cite web|title=American football gets set for India|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/othersports/176745-american-football-gets-set-for-india|work=NDTV Sport|access-date=15 May 2014}}</ref>
| ceo = Richard Whelan
| inaugural = [[2012 Elite Football League of India season|2012]]
| teams = [[#Teams|23]]
| country = {{IND}} (20 teams) {{PAK}} (1 team) {{LKA}} (2 teams)
| champion = [[Pune Marathas (American football)|Pune Marathas]] (1st title)
| most_champs = [[Pune Marathas (American football)|Pune Marathas]] (1)
| website = 
| TV = [[TEN Sports]] [[TEN Action]]
}}

The '''Elite Football League of India''' ('''EFLI''') was a professional [[American football]] league based in [[India]]. It was founded with eight franchises in 2011, and had 23 franchises throughout [[South Asia]], among whom 20 located in India, two in [[Sri Lanka]] and one in [[Pakistan]]. The league had only two seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/uncertainty-prevails-despite-hype-surrounding-efli/|title = Uncertainty prevails despite hype surrounding EFLI|date = 29 June 2014}}</ref>

The winners of the [[2012 Elite Football League of India season|first championship]] were [[Pune Marathas (American football)|Pune Marathas]], who claimed the title after defeating [[Delhi Defenders]] 6–0 in the [[2012 Elite Football League of India season#Elite Bowl I|Elite Bowl I]] on 10 November 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last=Roy Chowdhury|first=Souvik|title=EFLI Stat Sheet: Pune Marathas|url=https://cricket.yahoo.com/news/efli-stat-sheet-pune-marathas-104947101.html|work=Yahoo Sports|access-date=15 May 2014}}</ref>

==Establishment==
In August 2011, the EFLI announced the launch of the league.<ref>{{cite web |last=Acayan |first=Ezra |url=http://www.demotix.com/news/777860/elite-football-league-india-launched-mumbai |title=Elite Football League of India launched - Mumbai |publisher=Demotix.com |date=2011-08-05 |access-date=2013-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018060559/http://www.demotix.com/news/777860/elite-football-league-india-launched-mumbai |archive-date=18 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The aim of the league was to introduce American football to the Indian market and its large consumer base.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/03/american-football-is-coming-to-india/related/ |title=American football is coming to India | ProFootballTalk |publisher=Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |date=2011-08-03 |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> The organisation's management team consists of [[United States]] and Indian business and entertainment executives, and several U.S. sports figures.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Gridiron-league-launched-in-India/articleshow/9495133.cms |title=Gridiron league launched in India |work=The Times of India |date=2011-08-05 |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> U.S. brand marketing consultant Sunday Zeller is noted as the founder.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.efli.com/letter-from-the-founder.php |title=EFLI - Letter from the founder |access-date=2011-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728124247/http://www.efli.com/letter-from-the-founder.php |archive-date=28 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Prominent investors include [[Brandon Chillar]], an [[Indian American]] [[linebacker]] from the [[Super Bowl]]-winning [[Green Bay Packers]] who played eight games that 2010 season until an injury put him on the injured reserve list,<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/29123/brandon-chillar-suffers-cruel-lockout-fate |title=ESPN }}</ref> [[Super Bowl]]-winning head coach [[Mike Ditka]], former [[Dallas Cowboys]] [[wide receiver]] [[Michael Irvin]], and former [[NFL]] [[quarterback]]s [[Ron Jaworski]] and [[Kurt Warner]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blog/john-george/2011/08/cowboys-in-india-jaworski-helps.html |title=Ron Jaworski is investor in new India football league - Philadelphia Business Journal |work=The Business Journals |date= 2011-08-03|access-date=2011-12-02 |first=John |last=George}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/132235/american-football-in-india/ |title=American Football in India? |publisher=Inquisitr.com |date=2011-08-03 |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> Investors outside of the sports community include U.S. actor and entertainment producer [[Mark Wahlberg]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2012/01/25/kurt-warner-mark-wahlberg-investing.html |title= Kurt Warner, Mark Wahlberg investing in new Indian football league |work=The Business Journals |date= 2012-01-25|access-date=2012-01-29 |first=Kaplan |last=Daniel}}</ref>

The first regular-season games began 22 September 2012.<ref name=ScoreSchedule>{{cite web|title=Scores and Schedules|url=http://www.efli.com/scores-and-stats/efli/full-standings|work=EFLI website|publisher=EFLI|access-date=13 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010190345/http://www.efli.com/scores-and-stats/efli/full-standings|archive-date=10 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> EFLI games are broadcast on television in India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, and in the [[Maldives]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Nepal]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Indonesia]] and [[Japan]] on [[Ten Sports]]. This will represent a potential audience of over 500 million viewers.<ref name="yahoo1">{{cite web |last=Ivie |first=Eric R. |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8919377 |title=NFL stars taking American football overseas: A fan's perspective - NFL - Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=2011-12-02 |archive-date=12 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512223647/http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8919377 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/08/04/they-need-tv-product-why-american-football-is-coming-to-india/ |title='They Need TV Product': Why American Football Is Coming To India |magazine=Time |date=2011-08-04 |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref>

==League structure==
The EFLI management's intent is to draw current [[Rugby football|rugby]] players from India over to the sport, in part by paying higher salaries than the [[rugby league]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/money-scores-american-football-lures-indian-rugby-players/818872/ |title=Money scores, American football lures Indian rugby players |work=The Indian Express |date=2011-07-18 |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> In the announcement of the league on 5 August 2011, CEO Richard Whelan noted that orientation programmes had attracted over 4,000 interested players in the previous month alone.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Now-EFL-wants-to-take-India-by-storm/articleshow/9499529.cms |title=Now, EFL wants to take India by storm - Times Of India |work=The Times of India |date=2011-08-06 |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> Similar orientation events are planned for Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to attract a wide talent pool.<ref name="deccanchronicle1">{{cite web|agency=IANS |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/sport/others/american-football-comes-india-521 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011170916/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/sport/others/american-football-comes-india-521 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-11 |title=American football comes to India |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=2011-08-05 |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref>

Ownership of the teams will follow a [[Franchise (sports)|franchise]] system, similar to the structure of the NFL, and ownership will be determined in an auction format. Unlike ownership rules in other Indian sports leagues, bidding will be open to both Indian and non-Indian investors alike. Although specifics about league finances have not been announced, officials note that 15% of revenues will be shared with the [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports|Ministry of Sports]].<ref name="yahoo1"/>

While the teams represent cities across India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, all games for the inaugural season were hosted in [[Sugathadasa Stadium]] in [[Colombo]], Sri Lanka. The Sports Authority of India provided also the [[Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex|Balewadi Stadium]], which was used for pre-season activities.<ref name="yahoo1"/> The games were held in a [[Round-robin scheduling|round-robin]] format so that all teams played each other.<ref name="deccanchronicle1"/>

The expansion plans include total of 24 teams, as a part of a project, which aims to expand to 52 teams by 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/coming-soon-american-football-in-cricket-crazy-india-262529.html |title=Coming soon: American football in cricket-crazy India |publisher=Firstpost |date=2012-04-01 |access-date=2013-10-06}}</ref>

==Teams-across Asia==
===Current teams===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin: 1em auto; width:100%"
|-
! width="34%" | India
! width="33%" | Pakistan
! width="33%" | Sri Lanka
|-
||
{{Location map+ |India3| width=375 | float=center | caption=Location of EFLI teams in India (''Stallions and Warriors are not pinned on this map, because the associated cities have not been announced yet.'')| places=
{{Location map~ |India |lat=31.75 | long=74.90 | marksize=8 | label=[[Amritsar Guardians|Guardians]]|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=30.75 | long=76.78 | marksize=8 | label=[[Chandigarh Tigers|Tigers]] }}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=30.28 | long=76.31 | marksize=8 | label=[[Patiala Silverbacks|Silverbacks]]|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=28.3636 | long=77.1348 | marksize=8 | label=[[Delhi Defenders|Defenders]] }}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=26.847 | long=80.947 | marksize=8 | label=[[Lucknow Swarm|Swarm]] }}
{{location map~ |India |lat=26.9260 |long=75.8235 | marksize=8 | label=[[Jaipur Legends|Legends]]|position=left}}
{{location map~ |India |lat=23.03 |long=72.58 | marksize=8 | label=[[Gujarat Veers|Veers]]|position=left}}
{{location map~ |India |lat=22.72 |long=75.88 | marksize=8 | label=[[Indore Flash|Flash]] }}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=22.566667 | long=88.36667 | marksize=8 | label=[[Kolkata Vipers|Vipers]]|position=left}}
{{location map~ |India |lat=21.53 |long=72.88 | marksize=8 | label=[[Surat Diamonds|Diamonds]]|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=18.97500 | long=72.82583 | marksize=8 | label=[[Mumbai Gladiators|Gladiators]]|position=top}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=18.97500 | long=72.82583 | marksize=8 | label=[[Navi Mumbai Savers|Sabers]]|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=18.3113 | long=73.5124 | marksize=8 | label=[[Pune Marathas (American football)|Marathas]]|position=right}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=18.3113 | long=73.5124 | marksize=8 | label=[[Pune Blue Panthers|Blue Panthers]]|position=bottom}}

{{location map~ |India |lat=15.49300 | long=73.81800 | marksize=8 | label=[[Goa Waves|Waves]]}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=12.9788 | long=77.5996 | marksize=8 | label=[[Bangalore Warhawks|Warhawks]]|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |India |lat=12.9788 | long=77.5996 | marksize=8 | label=[[Bangalore Dragons|Dragons]]|position=top}}
{{location map~ |India |lat=13.08389 | long=80.27000 | marksize=8 | label=[[Chennai Cobras|Cobras]] }}
}}
||
{{Location map | Pakistan | width=305 | float=center | caption=Location of EFLI teams in Pakistan | lat=34.0167 | long=71.5833 | marksize=8 | label=[[Pakistan Wolfpak|Wolfpak]]
}}
||
{{Location map+ | Sri Lanka | width=155 | float=center | caption=Location of EFLI teams in Sri Lanka | places=
{{Location map~ | Sri Lanka |lat_deg=7|lat_min=16|lon_deg=80|lon_min=43 | marksize=8 | label=[[Kandy Kings|Kings]] }}
{{Location map~ | Sri Lanka |lat_deg=6|lat_min=56|lon_deg=79|lon_min=52 | marksize=8 | label=[[Colombo Lions|Lions]] }}
}}
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; font-size:88%;"
!style="background:white; width:10%" scope="col"|Conference
!style="background:white; width:25%" scope="col"|Team
!style="background:white; width:25%" scope="col"|City/State
!style="background:white; width:25%" scope="col"|Stadium
!style="background:white; width:10%" scope="col"|First season
|-
!style=background:Black colspan="5"|{{color|#FABB30|North Division}}
|-
!rowspan=4 style="background:white;" |North 1 Conference 1
|'''[[Amritsar Guardians]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Patiala Silverbacks]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Patiala]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Punjab Stallions]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} TBA, [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Chandigarh Tigers]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Chandigarh]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
!rowspan=4 style="background:white;" | North 2 Conference 2
|'''[[Delhi Defenders]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Delhi]], [[Delhi|Capital Territory]]
|[[Defenders Ground]]
|2012 (Season 1)
|-
|'''[[Lucknow Swarm]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Kolkata Vipers]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]]
|[[Salt Lake Stadium]]
|2012 (Season 1)
|-
|'''[[Haryana Warriors]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} TBA, [[Haryana]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
!style=background:Black colspan="8"| {{color|#FABB30|Center Division}}
|-
! rowspan=4 style="background:white;" | Center 1 Conference 3
|'''[[Surat Diamonds]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Surat]], [[Gujarat]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Indore Flash]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Indore]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Jaipur Legends]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Jaipur]], [[Rajasthan]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Gujarat Veers]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
! rowspan=4 style="background:white;" | Center 2 Conference 4
|'''[[Pune Blue Panthers]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Mumbai Gladiators]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]
|[[Cooperage Ground|Cooperage Stadium]]
|2012 (Season 1)
|-
|'''[[Pune Marathas (American football)|Pune Marathas]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]]
|[[Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex|Balewadi Stadium]]
|2012 (Season 1)
|-
|'''[[Navi Mumbai Sabers]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Navi Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
!style=background:Black colspan="8"| {{color|#FABB30|South Division}}
|-
! rowspan=3 style="background:white;" | South 1 Conference 5
|'''[[Bangalore Dragons]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Bangalore Warhawks]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]]
|[[Warhawks Ground]]
|2012 (Season 1)
|-
|'''[[Goa Waves]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} TBA, [[Goa]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
! rowspan=4 style="background:white;" | South 2 Conference 6
|'''[[Chennai Cobras]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Kandy Kings]]'''1
|{{flagicon|LKA}} [[Kandy]], [[Central Province, Sri Lanka|Central Province]]
|TBA
|TBA (Season 2)
|-
|'''[[Colombo Lions]]'''
|{{flagicon|LKA}} [[Colombo]], [[Western Province, Sri Lanka|Western Province]]
|[[Sugathadasa Stadium]]
|2012 (Season 1)
|-
|'''[[Pakistan Wolfpak]]'''
|{{flagicon|PAK}} [[Peshawar]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
|[[Wolfpak Ground]]
|2012 (Season 1)
|- style="text-align:center"
|colspan="7" style="font-size:8pt"|* denotes a relocation of a franchise. See respective team articles for more information. 1 Kandy Kings are not to be confused with the now-defunct '''Kandy Skykings''', which were known after their relocation as '''[[Hyderabad Skykings]]'''.
|}

===Former/defunct teams===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; font-size:88%;"
!style="width:25%" scope="col"|Team
!style="width:25%" scope="col"|City/State
!style="width:25%" scope="col"|Stadium
!style="width:12.5%" scope="col"|First season
!style="width:12.5%" scope="col"|Last season
|-
|'''[[Hyderabad Skykings]]'''
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]]
|[[Gachibowli Athletic Stadium|Gachibowli Stadium]]
|2012 (Season 1)
|2012 (Season 1)
|-
|}

==Championships==
{|class="wikitable" style="width:100%; font-size:85%; text-align:center"
!rowspan=2 style="background:Black; color:#FABB30; width:7%" | Season
!colspan=3 style="background:Black; color:#FABB30;" | Elite Bowl
!rowspan=2 style="background:Black; color:#FABB30; width:18%" | Final Venue
!rowspan=2 style="background:Black; color:#FABB30; width:25%" | MVP
!rowspan=2 style="background:Black; color:#FABB30; width:7%;"|# of Teams
|-
! style="background:#FABB30; color:Black; width:18%" | Winners
! style="background:#FABB30; color:Black; width:7%" | Score
! style="background:#FABB30; color:Black; width:18%" | Runners-up
|-
| 2012 ''[[2012 Elite Football League of India season|Details]]''
| [[Pune Marathas (American football)|Pune Marathas]]
| 06–00
| [[Delhi Defenders]]
| [[Sugathadasa Stadium]], [[Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]]
| Roshan Lobo ([[Running back|RB]], [[Bangalore Warhawks|Warhawks]])
| 8
|-
| 2015
| colspan=6 |''Cancelled in favour of inaugural [[EFLI University]] Championship''
|-
|}

===Elite Bowl records===
In the table below, teams are ordered first by number of wins, then by number of appearances, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Season(s)" column, bold years indicate winning seasons.

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
!
!style="width:12em; text-align:left"|Team
!style="width:6em; text-align:left"|Appearances
!style="width:6em; text-align:left"|Wins
!style="width:6em; text-align:left"|Losses
!style="width:9em; text-align:left"|Season(s)
|-
|1
|"|[[Pune Marathas (American football)|Pune Marathas]]
|1
|1
|0
|"|'''2012'''
|-
|2
|"|[[Delhi Defenders]]
|1
|0
|1
|"|2012
|}

==Documentary==
In 2012, the filmmaking duo [[Evan Rosenfeld]] and Jenna Moshell began following the EFLI and chronicling its inaugural season and the introduction of American football to South Asia in the documentary ''Birth of a Sport''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kck.st/SeqUj7 |title=Birth of a Sport: American Football in India and Pakistan by Evan Rosenfeld — Kickstarter |publisher=Kck.st |access-date=2013-10-06}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|American football}}
*[[National Football League]]
*[[NFL Europe]]
*[[Israeli Football League]]
*[[Philippine Tackle Football League]]
*[[Korea American Football Association]] (South Korea)
*[[X-League (Japan)|X-League]] (Japan)
*[[List of leagues of American and Canadian football]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.efli.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016224734/http://www.efli.com/ |date=16 October 2015 }}

{{Elite Football League of India}}
{{National sports leagues of India}}
{{Asian Football Leagues}}

[[Category:Elite Football League of India| ]]
[[Category:American football leagues]]
[[Category:American football in India]]
[[Category:American football in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:American football in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 2011]]
[[Category:2011 establishments in India]]

Elite Football League of India - Revision history

Navi guy at 07:08, 17 January 2026