Berlin Thunder financial problems force AFLE to activate protection plan

The Berlin Thunder’s financial problems have forced the American Football League Europe to step in, with the league activating its financial protection plan to keep the franchise operating through the remainder of the 2026 season.

The move comes after the financial situation surrounding Berlin Thunder’s operating company, FBG Football Berlin GmbH, deteriorated during ongoing insolvency proceedings. The AFLE says its intervention will secure commitments to players, coaches, employees and contractual partners while allowing the Thunder to continue playing.

League steps in

The situation has now reached the point where the AFLE, rather than FBG Football Berlin GmbH, will organize Berlin’s upcoming game against the Wroclaw Panthers.

According to the league, it is working directly with insolvency administrator Prof. Dr. Torsten Martini. From a legal standpoint, neither the administrator nor FBG Football Berlin GmbH is responsible for organizing the game because of the insufficiency of the estate.

The Thunder will remain on the field and continue competing under their existing name, but the league has stepped in to ensure the football operation continues.

That represents a significant development for a franchise that entered the inaugural AFLE season already undergoing financial restructuring.

Warning signs appeared earlier

There had already been some uncertainty surrounding the franchise earlier in the season.

Advance ticket sales for Berlin’s home game against the Vienna Vikings were temporarily suspended through Eventim, the club’s official ticket provider. At the time, Eventim said sales had been paused while confirmation of the final spectator capacity was awaited.

The situation also drew attention among supporters, particularly after the Berlin Thunder Fanzone reported that no additional tickets, including tickets for visiting fans, were being sold.

There was no official indication that the ticketing situation was connected to the club’s financial restructuring, and the game remained scheduled. Still, coming against the backdrop of the existing insolvency proceedings, it added another layer of uncertainty around the franchise.

Problems predate the AFLE

The financial difficulties surrounding the Thunder did not begin this season.

The franchise experienced financial problems during its previous years in the European League of Football, including reports involving delayed or missing payments. FBG Football Berlin GmbH subsequently entered insolvency proceedings, although Berlin was permitted to join the newly formed AFLE while attempting to restructure.

The latest development indicates that process has run into serious trouble. Insufficiency of assets has now been reported in the insolvency proceedings, meaning the available assets are insufficient to cover all obligations arising from the proceedings.

Berlin stays on the field

For the players and coaches, the immediate result is straightforward: the season continues.

That matters with the AFLE regular season approaching its conclusion. An interruption to Berlin’s schedule would affect not only the Thunder, but potentially the playoff race and other teams still scheduled to face them.

The league’s intervention removes that immediate uncertainty and ensures the Thunder can keep playing.

What happens after the season is another matter.

For now, the AFLE has bought Berlin Thunder something it badly needed: time.