The CFL has denied a claim from the United Football Players Association suggesting the league will likely cancel its 2021 and B次元官网网址�22 seasons.

The UFPA made the claim Tuesday in an update posted on Twitter regarding the CFL-XFL partnership. Last week, the two leagues announced jointly they were entering serious discussions about a potential collaboration but that nothing had been formally agreed upon and talk about a merger was very premature.

But the XFL also stated it was putting its plans for a return in the spring of 2022 on hold. On Tuesday, the UFPA announced on social media there was B次元官网网址渁 strong likelihood that the CFL may cancel the 2021 and 2022 seasons as well.B次元官网网址�

The organization concluded the update by stating: B次元官网网址榃e will be contacting management from both leagues to discuss what we as players should be aware of moving forward.B次元官网网址�

Not long after, the CFL issued a statement denying the claim.

B次元官网网址淭he UFPA has no standing with the CFL,B次元官网网址� the league stated on its Twitter account. B次元官网网址淲e, of course, bargain with the CFLPA.

B次元官网网址淭he claims being made in its name on our upcoming season are false. We plan to play this year. And we are working very hard towards playing this year. That includes working toward provincial and federal approvals for our health and safety plan.B次元官网网址�

The CFL is planning to resume play in 2021 after cancelling the B次元官网网址�20 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CFLB次元官网网址檚 rebuttal prompted an immediate response from the UPFA.

B次元官网网址淔or the record, the only B次元官网网址榗laim made was that B次元官网网址榤ultiple sources, including former and current league coaches and executives, have indicated to us that there is a strong likelihood the CFL may cancelB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� it stated on Twitter. B次元官网网址淭hat is 100 per cent true. Multiple sources have done just that.

B次元官网网址淲e would love nothing more than for you to come out and say there is no chance whatsoever that either 2021 or 2022 will be cancelled and has not even been considered.

B次元官网网址淲e hope what we are hearing is not true, but when half a dozen respected individuals mention it, we feel the need to bring it to light. These are OUR jobs/opportunities. All we want as players (is) for more transparency and not to be left guessing about our futures.B次元官网网址�

The CFLPA wasnB次元官网网址檛 immediately available for comment.

Details of the UFPA are limited. On its website, it describes itself as a B次元官网网址�501c4 Domestic Nonprofit Corporation filed in the State of Texas that was founded by, lead, and organized by current and former professional American football players (NFL, XFL, CFL, AAF) to facilitate communication, education and empowerment of players not represented by the National Football League Players Association.B次元官网网址�

The Association is reportedly made up for former NFL, XFL, Alliance of American Football and CFL players with the aim of negotiating benefits that are similar to those of the NFLPA. According to a source, the UPFA was formed after the XFL folded last year and ultimately filed for bankruptcy before being purchased for US$15 million by Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, his business partner Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital Partners B次元官网网址� a private investment firm.

The source added the UFPA was formed for players who were without a union with the focus of being an advocate for playersB次元官网网址� rights. The Association is reportedly fighting two cases versus both the XFL and American Alliance of Football, another spring football league that folded before completing its first season of operation in 2019.

The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as the UPFA, AAF and XFL have all not divulged details of the two cases.