The agreement applies equally to the men’s and women’s national teams.

“We have seen players who have problems combining parenthood with playing for the national team. Unfortunately, many players, especially women, also have short-term contracts with their clubs, which can make them vulnerable to injuries when the contract is not over. By offering parental support and full insurance coverage, we can hopefully make it easier for players who represent our national teams, says FA’s general secretary, Håkan Sjöstrand.

Parental support

The parental support offered is available to players who are the sole guardians of a child or otherwise have a family situation that makes it difficult to participate in international matches. The agreement obliges the Swedish FA to finance and facilitate the help and support the player needs to participate.

“We are happy with this; it is good to have a new agreement in place. The support that is offered is a good step forward to give us the best possible conditions for success “, says Caroline Seger, captain of the women’s senior national team.

The new deal is a joint agreement between the Swedish FA and both the men’s and women’s national teams. It covers all participation in the senior national team but does not include compensation or bonuses for any upcoming final tournaments. The agreement runs from 2022 to 2024.

This article originally appeared in UEFA Direct 197