German Football League: Berlin Adler forfeit entire season with two games left

One of the storied teams in the German Football League, the Berlin Adler, suddenly, with two games left in the regular season, and still with a chance for a playoff spot, have withdrawn from the GFL, forfeiting all their games.

The move caught the league by surprise. The Adler had a record of 4-6 at the time and were actually still in playoff contention. They were about the face the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes and then the Berlin Rebels next week, two very winnable games.

According to the GFL, on Friday, August 30, the ERIMA GFL Nord game management office received a written letter of cancellation from the Adler stating that they would not be able to play the home game against Kiel Baltic Hurricanes as they were no longer able to field a team. Apparently an ongoing disagreement between club management and the coaching staff and players intensified to the extent that the club was informed by some of the coaches and players that they would no longer be available. This included allegedly, head coach Zach Cavanaugh.

As a result of this decision, the Adler will now be relegated down to the the Regionliga (effectively Division 3) next season. All games played by the Adler this season will now officially be entered as 36-0 losses.

The Adler had been relegated to the GFL2 in 2018 and returned in 2022 under head coach Shuan Fatah. They reached the quarterfinals that first season back but faltered in 2023 falling to 5-7. Fatah stepped away from the head coaching role and Lee Rowland was expected to replace him but instead Cavanaugh, the former quarterback of the team, took over this season.

According to at least one source, the actions will have a much wider impact than simply relegation. The club’s U20 team, also  coached by Cavanaugh, apparently pulled out of the championship game and will face similar punishment. The players on that team that the club has developed and who had been expected to move up to the senior team, could now possibly face much harsher consequences including suspension which would prevent them from playing not only for their club team but also any other team in Germany and for the national team. This would be a huge blow to any aspiring young athlete.

For now, the AFVD, states they they will do everything they can to minimize the impact of the Adler’s withdrawal. Axel Streich, chairman of the GFL league association:

“The league and all GFL clubs will do everything they can to ensure that the current season is affected as little as possible by this withdrawal. We very much regret the Adler’s cancellation of the game and we are particularly sorry for the fans and teams who were looking forward to and preparing for the two remaining games.”

As a result of this, the usual relegation between ERIMA GFL Nord and GFL2 Nord will no longer take place. The top team in the GFL2 North will automatically be promoted to the GFL. The AFVD competition commission will decide in due course how the additional vacant spot in the GFL2 will be filled.