The Swedish Football Association, SvFF, has been notified to the Discrimination Ombudsman, DO, for unequal compensation for national team players. The investigation started last summer and is ongoing right now.
SEK 14,200 differenceAt the same time, large wage differences are something that is commonplace in the Swedish series system. Blekinge has two teams in the second highest series, Asarum in the women's Elite and Mjällby in the men's Superettan. Mjällby's players have an average salary of SEK 16,000 a month. In Asarum, it is SEK 1,800 a month.
- You have always known that there are differences and it feels like women's football is on the rise, but there is still a bit left, says Mikaela Almgren, who is the team captain for Asarums IF / FK.
Does anything need to be done about the differences?
- Yes, of course, there are big differences. Then the question is what to do. Sponsors and audiences must attend the matches. Then it's about TV time. The superettans match is visible. It doesn't. At the same time, you notice that something happened after the World Cup. There is more discussion on the issue of gender equality, says Mikaela Almgren.
Income gap in numbersThe Swedish Football Association's calculations show that the players' average monthly salary in the Superettan is SEK 20,000. In the Elite there is no indication of the average salary. The reason given for that is that games in the Elite do not require an elite license, that it is not a professional league and therefore the average salary is not calculated.
The average player salary in the men's highest series Allsvenskan is SEK 94,000 per month. In Damallsvenskan it is SEK 11,000 a month.
Blekinge Fotbollförbund comments on salary differences.
- I do not know if it will be a full equalization. But I think there will be changes as society evolves. Women's soccer is gaining a greater interest today and I think that will affect this in the future, says Tommy Andersson, who is chairman of Blekinge Football Association.