Robustelli Tries to Teach Football to Europe

Former New York Giants standout Andy Robustelli wants to teach Europeans about football -- football with kickoffs and defensive tackles, not corner kicks and slide tackles.

“We want to help Europeans learn about football at the grassroots level,” Robustelli said. “Football will never replace soccer there, but there’s a definite interest.”

His company, Robustelli Sports Marketing, announced Wednesday a marketing and consulting agreement with the European Football League. The agreement includes plans for clinics and training camps and promotions. The company also will seek corporate sponsors for the EFL.

“The thrust of this agreement is to develop American football throughout Europe,” said Buddy Amendola, a former assistant coach at Yal and Columbia. “The interest and enthusiasm already is unbelievable.”

The level of play, however, lags, said Amendola, director of football development for Robustelli Sports Marketing.

“The level is a cut below a good junior college and, in some cases, high school,” Amendola said. “Our game plan is to cultivate youth groups and provide our expertise.”

Robustelli said he hopes the play eventually could improve to the level of a fair major college team.

“But they’ll never be at the level of a Notre Dame,” he said. “It’s just not possible.”

The EFL, which plays in the spring, is a loosely knit organization of more than 950 football teams from 15 countries, including Great Britain, Germany and the Soviet Union. The best teams from each country play for the right to play in the EuroBowl Championship.

The EFL is not related to the World League of American Football, the National Football League’s planned spring league.

Robustelli said his company also is making rules recommendations to the EFL, such as outlawing complicated schemes.

“You don’t want to get too complicated because the players are just learning the basics,” he said. “You also want to keep the game fun or they’re going to quit.”

The company also will try to teach the general public about football.”Part of the whole clinic program is to get spectators involved,”said Robustelli’s son, Bob Robustelli, director of international sales development. “Spectators over there would like to know how the equipment goes on, what the rules are. They want to understand the game.”

The EFL contacted Robustelli Sports Marketing after seeing how the company helped organize a Mexican football league, the younger Robustelli said.

The agreement with the EFL run three to five years. Robustelli Sports Marketing will make its money through corporate sponsorships and merchandising, he said.