CFL 'guilty of bad timing' in rule changes amid surge of Canadian patriotism: Winnipeg fan

The CFL is fighting fan unhappiness over upcoming rule changes that traditionalists say betray the Canadian version's proud differences from the better-known U.S. game, ahead of the league's championship game on Sunday.

The Canadian Football League presented the upcoming rule changes for 2026 and 2027 in September. They reduce the length of the Canadian field, move the goalposts to the back of the end zone, and tweak other elements.

Canadian patriotism has surged since U.S. President Donald Trump referred to Canada this year as the "51st state."

During the April federal election campaign, Prime Minister Mark Carney's embrace of the ice-hockey-themed phrase "elbows up" toward the U.S. helped him win a surprise re-election for his Liberal Party.

The American anthem has been booed at hockey games, and millions of Canadians supported baseball's Toronto Blue Jays in their World Series run.

Now, Canadian football is stirring patriotic feelings.

"Everyone who supports this league was blindsided by these substantial rule changes without any consultation with the fans or the players," said Patrick Land of Winnipeg, who moderates a Facebook group against the changes.

"Considering the current political climate with the U.S.A., the CFL is guilty of bad timing and being tone-deaf to what it means to be Canadian. We don't like the idea of the Americanization of our game," Land said.

Fans of Canadian football have flocked to Winnipeg for a days-long festival leading to Sunday's Grey Cup game, which will see the Montreal Alouettes square off against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Princess Auto Stadium.

They are quick to reject any characterization of their sport as merely a version of American football. Many of the rugby-derived