Ex-NFLers back new pro soccer league

LOS ANGELES: The Alliance for American Football on Tuesday announced plans for a new gridiron league, aiming to steal a march on the returning XFL in the bid to woo NFL fans.

Former NFL general manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Polian is a founder of the eight-team league along with television and film producer Charlie Ebersol. Former NFL players Jared Allen, Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward and Justin Tuck are also involved. The league plans to launch on February 9, 2019, six days after Super Bowl 53 is played in Atlanta.

That’s a year before world wrestling tycoon Vince McMahon is planning to relaunch the XFL, a competition that lasted for one season in 2001 and which billionaire McMahon said in January he would reopen in 2020. The Alliance already has broadcast plans lined up. Its opening game as well as the championship game on the weekend of April 26-28, 2019 are to be televised on the CBS network.

Other games will be telecast on the CBS Sports Network. Over the next 12 weeks, cities and coaches will be announced. “As a former player, The Alliance’s emphasis on player well-being on and off the field is something I’m proud to be a part of.”