Lingerie football goes to Toronto

The U.S. Lingerie Football League is broadening its horizons to include a Canadian scantily clad franchise in Toronto, the league announced. League founder Mitchell Mortaza said the as-yet unnamed team will compete in the 2-year-old league's Eastern division.

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GALLERY: Lingerie Football League

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The women play seven-per-side full-contact football on a half-sized field wearing helmets, shoulder, knee and elbow pads, bras, and panties.

The players in the league's 10 teams don't get paid, but their uniform and travel expenses are covered by the league.

Mortaza said the experience exposes the women to careers in entertainment.

"It's really an opportunity for them to be elevated to (the level) of major sports for guys, and be on the cover of everything ranging from Playboy to ESPN to Fox News channel," he said.

Try-outs for the Toronto team will begin April 30, Mortaza said.

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GALLERY: Lingerie Football League part 2

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Toronto mother Judy Pfeifer told the Star she wasn't impressed by the concept of a league of attractive female athletes in skimpy clothing.

"What's next -- thong soccer?" she said. "I don't think this does much for gender equality."

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