By Ed White

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA (Reuters) -The Canadian Football League is fighting fan unhappiness over upcoming rule changes that traditionalists say betray the Canadian version’s proud differences from the better-known U.S. game, ahead of the championship game on Sunday.

The CFL presented the upcoming rule changes for 2026 and 2027 in September. They reduce the length of the Canadian field, move the goalposts to the back of the end zone, and tweak other elements.

Canadian patriotism has surged since U.S. President Donald Trump referred to Canada this year as the “51st state.” During the April federal election campaign, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s embrace of the ice-hockey-themed phrase “elbows up” toward the U.S. helped him win a surprise reelection for his Liberal Party.

The Americ

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