IFAF officials to take charge of Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles
- IFAF Media
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
When five-time NFL MVP Tom Brady makes his return to competition this weekend, it will be under International Federation of American Football (IFAF) flag football rules.
IFAF is supporting the highly-anticipated Fanatics Flag Football Classic, which was relocated from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at short notice, and will now take place at BMO Stadium – the venue for flag football’s debut Olympic Games appearance in Los Angeles 2028.
IFAF, which will run the LA28 qualification and medal competitions as the global governing body of flag football, is providing six of its most experienced game officials to oversee all the on-field action this Saturday, 21 March.
Desiree Abrams (USA), Ramaal Coleman (USA), Allan Kotliar (Argentina), Giane Pessoa (Brazil), Catherine Piche (Canada) and Scott Woloshin (Canada) will officiate across the tournament. Three female and three male officials have been appointed, reflecting IFAF’s commitment to gender equality among International Technical Officials at the Los Angeles Games.
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic will feature NFL legends past and present including seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Myles Garrett, Odell Beckham Jr. Ashton Jeanty, Alvin Kamara, Davante Adams, DeVonta Smith, Deebo Samuel, Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey.
They will match up against the team ranked number one in the IFAF men’s world rankings, the United States of America. In a round-robin tournament, the five-time consecutive reigning IFAF world champions will face Founders FFC, captained by Brady and Jalen Hurts and coached by Sean Payton and Wildcats FFC, captained by Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow and coached by Kyle Shanahan.
As the countdown to Los Angeles 2028 continues, the tournament promises a tantalizing preview of talent that could grace the Olympic stage in just over two years’ time.
NFL Club owners last year voted to release active players to try out for Olympic flag football team rosters in 2028. Meanwhile the USA national team heads to Germany this summer seeking to defend its crown at the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Düsseldorf from August 13-16.
“Having Team USA as the third team in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic elevates the already world-class talent participating in this tournament,” said Brady. “I’m fired up to see how these teams stack up, and the fact that we’ll be playing in the same stadium that will host flag football during the Olympics will show the world a preview of what’s to come in 2028.”
IFAF President Pierre Trochet, who will travel to Los Angeles to attend the tournament, said: “We’re excited to support the Fanatics Flag Football Classic – a blockbuster that reflects the undeniable excitement building among athletes, fans, brands and media as flag football edges ever closer to LA28. This event combines all the same ingredients that flag football will bring to Olympic stage, mixing athletic spectacle, entertainment and the extraordinary skill of the greatest players in our sport.”
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