All-female Lingerie League is lighting up American football

London, Oct 12 : American football has just become even more engaging with the forming of an all-female Lingerie League, featuring maximum glamour and minimum clothing.

The game, known for its testosterone-pumping action, will be setting pulses racing even more as women's teams compete in just their underwear, protective helmets, and pastel-shaded shoulder pads.

The move has inflamed anti-sexism lobbyists, but organisers say that anyone expecting dainty moves and half-baked sporting action should think again.

"These girls take it very seriously. They aren't going to be just skipping round the field worrying about breaking their fingernails, they're going to be worrying about breaking their necks," Times Online quoted Lingerie League spokesman Kyle Bolin as saying.

"We've already had everything from broken collar bones to busted-out knees," he added.

The Lingerie League originated as a television-programming gimmick launched by a Hollywood production company, Horizon Productions, in 2004.

The show, which was designed as a pay-per-view rival to the halftime show at the Superbowl, American football's championship final, currently has ten teams.

Most of the teams run as franchises, with names such as Chicago Bliss, Atlanta Steam, Dallas Desire, Phoenix Scorch and San Diego Seduction, and there are plans to expand the Lingerie League into Europe, including Britain, and into Canada and Asia next year.

The league will make its professional debut next spring, with players earning starting salaries in the region of 40,000 dollars, and match schedules mirroring those of the mainstream National Football League.

ANI