THE LINGERIE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The Lingerie Football League (LFL) is a women’s 7-on-7 tackle American football league, created in 2009, with games played in the fall and winter at NBA, NFL, NHL and MLS arenas and stadiums. The league was founded by Mitchell S. “Mitch” Mortaza. The league’s administrative offices are in West Hollywood, California.

The concept originated from the Super Bowl halftime alternative television special called the Lingerie Bowl. It draws millions of viewers as a pay-per-view event broadcast annually directly opposite the Super Bowl halftime show. The television show has become a staple of Super Bowl Sunday festivities for millions worldwide and is broadcast in over 85 countries.

The league has met with significant criticism. Critics say the league degrades female athletes through “pernicious objectification”; others say it “simply” uses sex to sell a legitimate athletic league. Potential players have responded more positively, with one quoted as saying “I just appreciate playing football, I don’t care what they put me in.” and another favoring the limited clothing, saying “It’s more comfortable this way.” The league has been accused of fining players for wearing too many clothes, and for not paying medical bills for injured players. League founder Mortaza has admitted that the league is marketed toward “mostly beer-drinking college students aged 21 and up.”