The Grit Beneath the Grass: Alternative Football Exposed
United Football Media has received shocking reports from credible sources about players from the United States being stranded abroad by the International Football Alliance (IFA). The unfortunate circumstances came to light after the announcement on June 13, 2025, that the Chihuahua Rebellion withdrew from the IFA, citing administrative, financial, and ethical irregularities within the league and shuttered operations.
Despite many enthusiasts’ hopeful ambitions that alternative leagues offer opportunities, they often lack the protection provided by major organizations like the NFL. Athletes can face significant risks when pursuing their careers in less-established leagues without agents, league officials, or unions.
As we get in to the article and begin sharing reports of gross misconduct and even discuss issues that border criminal activities, it is important to note that our intention is not to assign blame; rather, we are committed to providing accurate and balanced coverage of these events and examining the effects of decisions made by leadership within the IFA and its teams has had on its players. New football leagues often face significant challenges that can lead to mistakes, frequently harming the very players they depend on for success.
History of the IFA
The IFA was announced in January 2023. The league was among the first to promote actual international football, as they planned to have teams in the United States and Mexico. It was scheduled to launch in 2024 but was delayed until 2025. The announced teams included the Dallas Pioneros, Chihuahua Rebellion, San Antonio Caballeros, and Tampa Bay Tornadoes.
The IFA faced many challenges: only three teams gained enough traction to play games in its inaugural 2025 season. The IFA collapsed within a month due to financial issues, team withdrawals, and allegations of misconduct against league officials. Some of the more well-known stories about the league included the collapse of teams like the San Antonio Caballeros, Baltimore Lightning, and Alabama Beavers.
There were even legal troubles reported; a lawsuit ensued against league owner Jason Adams, and the lone international team, the Chihuahua Rebellion, suspended its season amid money laundering claims and the more commonly known reason for failure, financial struggles. By June 2025, the league was essentially defunct, with remaining teams like the Tampa Bay Tornadoes going independent.
In an official statement, Baltimore CEO and General Manager Will J Hanna, II, raised substantial concerns regarding player safety during travel to Mexico, citing issues from alleged unpaid loans to specific lenders. Based on the information provided to United Football Media, these concerns around player safety appear to be well-founded and justified. What you read in the remainder of this article should warn athletes to be very careful which team and league they tie their professional careers to.
Several sources familiar with the situation in Chihuahua have reported concerning information regarding player treatment and possible misconduct by officials. Some reports indicate issues that may reflect inadequate management practices. Some of the more severe allegations may even border on potential criminal behavior.
Allegations
If an employer sends an employee on an international business trip and does not provide means for returning home, accommodation, or pay, this could be considered a serious violation of company responsibilities. Now, imagine the employer suggests seeking personal relationships for lodging or support. In that case, it elevates the concern regarding violating laws and raises questions about legal standards. A source in Chihuahua stated that the IFA or team encouraged players “to get girlfriends to take care of us and use our bodies for a place to stay.”
When hearing these comments, one’s mind may go straight to thoughts of the sex trade or prostitution. What may seem like an innocent suggestion to others can sound like a request by management to participate in less-than-desirable or illegal activities. While prostitution is legal in parts of Chihuahua, it is not allowed in Nampa, Idaho, where the International Football Alliance (IFA) is headquartered and registered under owner Jason Adams. Approximately 15 to 20 players were encouraged to participate in such practices to satisfy their lodging needs. Needs that the American players thought were being covered by the league or team.
Player Safety
Other claims regarding player safety have also been reported. Issues such as insufficient helmets and the absence of physical examinations have mostly been verified. Not having a properly fitting helmet in a sport as violent as football can lead to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, commonly referred to as CTE. There were reports of other serious safety concerns, such as improper hydration related to the team failing to provide something as simple as drinking water.
A separate source confirmed that players had to sign injury waivers. Why is that of grave concern? These waivers released the IFA of a measure of responsibility for players, and some who were hurt essentially received no medical support. One source close to the situation said the injury waiver was “without player consent”.
Most players were unaware of its contents until some games had already been played. One player reinjured his foot at camp; an MRI showed a previously inserted piece of medical hardware was bent, and the player was sent home without medical support or travel reimbursement. One of the medical personnel on staff quit the team due to unpaid wages, so to say player health wasn’t given the proper concern would be an understatement.
Financial Struggles
One surefire way to confirm that an organization is on the verge of collapse is to watch checks bounce or, in this case, never arrive. We already discussed that medical staff in Chihuahua were not receiving their paychecks, and neither were the players. Some players paid their room expenses, expecting a reimbursement check that never arrived. Players abandoned by the league had to resort to any means necessary to return to the U.S. Some even sold personal belongings or team-issued gear to buy bus tickets home.
Other signs of financial struggles began popping up when buses to transport the players from the hotel to the training facilities stopped running their routes. The gym where players were working out closed its doors to the players due to non-payment. Despite the struggles, players were still showing up to practice, forced to do so with the threat of having their pay withheld if they didn’t. The pay that was promised still hasn’t arrived.
In total, approximately eight players were left stranded in Mexico due to the league’s or team’s significant financial struggles. To make matters worse, some of these players did not have easy access to family, friends, or other resources that could assist in their travel home.
Legal Action
Four players have sought legal assistance by hiring Attorney Felipe Ponce. At a press conference, Ponce stated that contracts were signed in Chihuahua in front of team representatives, investors, and state authorities who publicly endorsed the project’s launch. He noted that there were assurances of a professional league supported by the United States. (LatinUS, 2025)
Some of those assurances included housing, food, training, and other expenses, but players were forced to cover these expenses for themselves for approximately 50 days. Players felt the team knew they needed financial assistance and “forced” them to sign a document releasing the IFA from responsibility for any monies owed. This document likely sparked them to seek legal counsel and sue the ownership/league.
The Chihuahua Rebellion folded due to the IFA’s collapse, driven by financial mismanagement, leadership disputes, and ethical concerns. Allegations of FBI-linked misconduct hinted at potential money laundering, but these allegations have not been verified. The player fraud scandal underscored severe mismanagement, leaving athletes stranded and prompting legal action. The team’s attempt to go independent reflects resilience, but faces significant hurdles given the reported issues.
Team Statement
In early June, the Rebellion posted the following statement on Instagram: “Since February of this year, we have provided comprehensive financial, logistical, and technical support, making all our resources available for the games in our capital. However, this collaboration has become unsustainable” (LatinUS, 2025). Despite the best intentions, nothing seemed to work that well for the IFA.
To further reiterate the hope and subsequent failure on behalf of the IFA, when commenting on the team’s first game, one writer put it this way: “The game was supposed to mark a fresh chapter for professional football in Mexico. Instead, it became the first and last IFA appearance for the Rebelión.”(Brown, 2025)
One source told United Football Media that being part of the IFA “was the most unprofessional experience I’ve ever had. I want to shed light on what happened to protect guys in the future. Especially since the ‘league’ is still trying to convince players to play next year.”
Conclusion
If there is one piece of advice to take from this article, it would be that if you are an Investor whom the IFA or its owners contact, conduct additional research before making any commitments. If you are a player considering signing with an IFA organization, do your due diligence for your personal safety. Know the challenges related to start-up leagues and their operations, and be sure you fully understand the “Grit Beneath the Grass.”
We contacted the IFA for a statement before releasing this article, but received no response.
References
LatinUS. (2025, July 18). Jugadores extranjeros denuncian fraude y trato inhumano tras firmar con equipo de futbol americano de Chihuahua: “Sólo nos dieron 500 dólares”. Retrieved from LatinUS: https://latinus.us/deportes/nfl/2025/7/18/rebelion-tarahumara-fraude-jugadores-extranjeros-futbol-americano-147151.html
Brown, J. (2025, June 14). Chihuahua Rebelión Leaves IFA, Citing FBI Links and League Misconduct. Retrieved from SPCSN: https://semiproandcollegesportsnetwork.com/2025/06/chihuahua-rebelion-leaves-ifa-citing-fbi-links-and-league-misconduct/