20 August 2025 - Written By
Important Announcement – Effective Immediately
Every sport has its standards.
On the LOF stage, you are representing not only yourself, but also your supporters, your sponsors, and the sport of competitive chilli eating.
At League of Fire, our mission is to drive competitive chilli eating forward as a global sport. We’ve already come a long way, and we continue to strive for greater heights. To get there, we must constantly learn, grow, and evolve. At the same time, we must protect the integrity of the stage – ensuring athletes, sponsors, supporters, and organisers all know the spotlight is clear, fair, and professional.
That’s why we are introducing Stage Ready Standards.
These standards are not intended as restrictions, but as necessary measures to protect athletes, supporters, sponsors, organisers, and to safeguard the credibility of the sport itself and the LOF brand.
By implementing these standards, we ensure that all LOF competitions are conducted with clarity, respect, and uniformity.
WHY IT MATTERS
- You matter. You’ve earned your place, and the spotlight should shine on you.
- Your sponsors matter. They’ve chosen to back you, and they deserve recognition without confusion.
- The match sponsors and host festival/event organisers matter. They play a crucial part in the growth of competitive chilli eating.
- The sport matters. A consistent, professional stage builds trust for fans, athletes, sponsors, and organisers alike.
When you compete, the world should see a sport that’s professional, consistent, and trustworthy. That way, fans know they’re cheering for something real. Athletes know their effort is respected. And sponsors know their investment is valued.
THE STANDARDS
What belongs on stage?
- Official LOF merch – a mark that you’re a part of a global organisation.
- Festival merch – celebrating the event that’s hosting the battle.
- Your own brand merch – if you’ve built one.
- Your sponsor’s merch – provided they have financially backed you, regardless of the outcome, that they are sponsoring only you in that match, and that their brand aligns with LOF’s values and ethics.
- Official hot sauce, pepper, or belt match sponsor merch – tied directly to that specific competition.
- Non-chilli related branded/unbranded merch or your own style of attire (stage costume) – given it’s respectful to fellow contestants, the audience, and the host festival/event.
What doesn’t belong?
- Any chilli-related brand merch that is not a direct sponsor – in accordance with the categories outlined above, that may be seen as conflicting and diverting attention away from the athlete, the sponsors, the sport, the League of Fire organisation, and/or the host festival/event.
That’s it. Clean. Recognisable. Respectful.
WHAT THIS MEANS
It’s not about restrictions.
It’s about fairness, professionalism, and respect.
It ensures that when you step on stage, the focus is on your performance, sponsors, organisers, and the sport itself.
We cannot allow non-sponsor chilli-related brands to blur the lines or misuse the stage. LOF exists to promote the athletes, respect the people who unconditionally back them, publicize the sponsors, elevate the host festivals/events, and enhance the advancement of this sport.
If there is any confusion or ambiguity as to what is permissible attire, we ask that you email us prior to the event so we can review your intended wear, and confirm at our discretion whether or not it will be permitted.
IMPLEMENTATION
By entering the LOF stage, athletes agree to adhere to these standards. LOF officials and host festival/event organisers reserve the right to request changes to attire or to remove prohibited branding from the stage. Non-compliance may result in disqualification.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Together, we’re building more than just competitions. We’re building a stage that:
- Celebrates athletes.
- Showcases real sponsors.
- Promotes host festivals/events.
- Pushes the sport forward.
So when you step onto that stage, know this: it’s your moment. It’s your supporters’ moment. And it’s the sport’s moment.
