A Championhip For Sale!

The controversy had erupted days before the game. In that grey, murky area that social media so often becomes, the announcement of the Spanish Bowl venue was met with attacks on the Spanish American Football Federation (FEFA) and accusations of favouritism and lack of transparency.

But let us start at the beginning, if it is even possible to establish a clear starting point in a controversy that has overshadowed (or at least managed to divert attention from) Las Rozas Black Demons’ emphatic 27-13 victory over Badalona Dracs in the Spanish Bowl.

The call issued by the Spanish Federation to host the final of the National American Football League (LNFA), known as the Spanish Bowl, had received no bids. Facing financial difficulties and the need to operate under a cost-free organisational policy, the requirements state that any party interested in hosting the final must take on significant expenses, including officiating costs, ambulances, live streaming and, of course, the rental of the field itself. Not many teams in Spain have full availability of the venues where they play their games.

The weeks went by. The most evenly matched and exciting regular season in years was moving dangerously close to the playoffs, still without a venue capable of offering everything the Federation required. As a result, the Federation once again contacted clubs and regional federations to request a host. With the deadlines stretched almost beyond belief, Black Demons and Badalona Dracs submitted their proposals. Both were clear favourites to reach the final and both made their candidacy conditional on actually being finalists.

On April 25 FEFA was closely following both semifinals: Badalona against Osos Rivas, and Las Rozas against Terrassa Reds. The Federation was waiting to see whether at least one of the bidders would make it to the final. What would have happened if Osos and Reds had won? Probably none of what followed. That same Saturday, FEFA made its decision.

On Monday, April 27, five days before the final, the Federation announced the venue. For the second year in a row, Black Demons (the No. 1 seed) would have to travel to Badalona to face Dracs (the No. 2 seed). The Catalan bid included a cash payment to the Federation, in addition to covering the organisational costs. Black Demons’ proposal, by contrast, did not include any cash payment, but instead offered (and economically valued) the future use of their field for a training camp for Spain’s flag football national teams ahead of an event scheduled for the following weekend.

Social media exploded. The Federation’s post filled up with negative comments (very negative ones, in the unpleasant style that dominates the internet) coming, logically, from the Las Rozas fans. They accused the Federation of being scarcely (if at all) transparent in its process and of once again favouring Badalona Dracs. Not in those exact words, unfortunately, but in rather stronger ones. Responses from the other side were quick to arrive. Dark clouds gathered, the air grew heavy, and throughout the week the storm built with inflammatory comments and exchanges of accusations, while the Federation remained silent. Prudent, perhaps, but insufficiently so.

The storm broke after Black Demons’ on-field whirlwind. The Madrid team won the game against a combative Badalona Dracs side. They celebrated their victory, celebrated the more than deserved MVP award for national running back Daniel Romero, watched the trophy presentation for the runner-up and then, like the first drops of rain before the downpour, the Black Demons players left the field one after another and headed to the locker room without collecting the Championship trophy, leaving the Federation president standing alone. A gesture of protest. A clear message. The problem was that they also left behind the crowd gathered at Badalona’s municipal stadium (almost 1,800, according to the organisation) and the local authorities who had attended the game.

And then? Then came the statements again on social media: from the Federation president, from the Black Demons president, from the mayor of Badalona and from anyone else seeking unnecessary notoriety and willing to throw more fuel on the fire.

Speaking on the Spanish podcast 8 Costuras, the president of Black Demons stood by the decision and accepted the possible consequences. The Federation has opened disciplinary proceedings, the outcome of which will have to be known in the coming weeks. His account of events upheld the version of an injustice, although he made it clear that the only intention was to show their disagreement with the venue in the least harmful way possible: not lifting their own trophy but remaining on the field to attend the presentation received by their opponent and runner-up, Dracs. Daniel Romero himself, the game’s MVP, confirmed that the decision had been unanimous and was made in defence of family and friends who, for the second consecutive year, had been forced to travel the more than 600 kilometres separating Badalona from Madrid.

Today, just a few days after the events, the storm seems to be easing. But what we all regret is that a combination of unclear circumstances has led us to a point where, once again, the story is about everything except what happened on the field. And what we all need and deserve is transparency and clear skies: an explanation of how the process unfolded.