On Tuesday morning, The United Football Players Association (UFPA) made an announcement regarding what has been a heavily speculated topic lately, the likelihood of a 2021 and 2022 CFL season being canceled.
With news last week of the CFL and XFL having formal talks about future collaboration, many players and fans have been fearfully speculating that the delay or cancellation of the season may be a potential outcome. Although there is still no confirmation from either league on what will happen, this is not very comforting to hear for CFL fans.
For those unaware, The UFPA is a 501c4 Domestic Nonprofit Corporation filed in the State of Texas that was founded by, lead, and organized by current and former professional American football players (NFL, XFL, CFL, AAF) to facilitate communication, education, and empowerment of players not represented by the National Football League Players Association.
XFL News Hub Writer/Insider, Josh Davis, reached out to one of the organizers of the UFPA , Former Seattle Dragons Running Back, Kenneth Farrow II to comment on the official statement, his response
“We just want guys to be aware of the potential of not having a place to play and have some sort of plan. I pray that’s not the case because a lot of guys will be in a tough place if so.”
This news will likely begin raising more questions in the mind of XFL fans as well. With the CFL 2022 season potentially in jeopardy, why wouldn’t the XFL season be as well?
The leagues are trying to collaborate, and planning for the XFL’s season was already paused publicly. It would appear that the actions of these two leagues may be linked regardless of a full merger or not.
In my personal opinion, I believe that last week’s announcement was to let the potential outcomes sink in so that if/when news of a season delay, cancellation, merger, or whatever it may be that follows these chats is not as much of a shock.
Only time will tell what will happen, but until we get an official announcement, this is sure to stir up more speculation. There has been no official word from both the CFL and XFL. The news has gotten some pushback from CFL media already.
This is a fluid situation, XFL News Hub will keep you posted as this story develops.
*UPDATE – CFL PR Releases Statement
That includes working towards provincial and federal approvals for our health and safety plan. 2/2
— CFL Communications (@CFL_PR) March 16, 2021
*UPDATE – Kenneth Farrow II & The UFPA have released a video addressing the earlier press release and any confusion.
*UPDATE – CFLPA president Solomon Elimimian calls UFPA Statement “unnecessary distraction”
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