IMMAF vice-president George Sallfeldt and Honorary President August Wallen have been removed from the Board of Directors following a vote after allegations they spread false information about the organisation ©IMMAF

International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) vice-president George Sallfeldt and Honorary President August Wallén have been removed from their posts on the IMMAF Board of Directors following allegations they deliberately spread false information about the organisation.

Sallfeldt and Wallén were removed from the Board of Directors after a vote at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), held virtually.

The grounds for removal were based on what members believed to be deliberate attempts to undermine the organisation by spreading false information about its running and the role of the current President Kerrith Brown and chief executive Densign White.

At the EGM 37 members voted Yes to the proposal of removing Sallfeldt and Wallén, with 14 voting No.

There was one abstention, two no votes and three invalid votes, with the process overseen by an independent moderator from Geoff Wilson Consultancy.

All members who had paid their annual fees were eligible to vote.

IMMAF President Kerrith Brown called for unity following the decision, saying: "It is time for all federations to move on and find unity so we can continue to develop the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) that makes it fit for purpose for the next generation of MMA athletes and administrators.

Sallfeldt, top and Wallen, were removed after a vote taking at an Extraordinary General Meeting of IMMAF, held online ©IMMAF
Sallfeldt, top and Wallen, were removed after a vote taking at an Extraordinary General Meeting of IMMAF, held online ©IMMAF

"The goal of recognition within the Olympic family is very close to hand so let us unite and emerge even stronger."

IMMAF was founded in Sweden in 2012 by former athletes and Presidents of the Swedish MMA Federation Sallfeldt and Wallén.

The World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) was founded in the same year, and both organisations initially worked independently to develop the sport and obtain Olympic recognition.

IMMAF and WMMAA signed a legally binding, affiliation Memorandum of Understanding in May 2018 after agreeing to cooperate, after being advised by the Global Association of International Sport Federations that only one applicant could be considered for formal sport recognition.

Wallén was the first President of IMMAF from February 2012 through to September 2013, and was awarded the Honorary President title in 2015.

Wallén competed in shootfighting in the 1990s and early 2000s and has a record of eight wins and one defeat in his professional MMA career.

Sallfeldt has been a vice-president of IMMAF since 2012 and served as President of the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation from 2011 until 2014.

He works as chief executive for Morningstar Sweden AB, a company that operates in the investment management and financial advisory industry.