"The men's European Championships were financially at home earlier than the women's"

All nations that make it to the European Championships receive a participant compensation.

When the Swedish football masters went to the European Championships last year, the Swedish Football Association received an advance payment of almost SEK 100 million for the upcoming participation in the championship.

The same does not apply on the women's side.

Sweden's European Championship ticket yesterday gave 0 kroner.

- When it comes to the men's European Championships, they are financially at home in such good time that the national federations in Europe can get a payment earlier.

When it comes to the ladies' championships and other championships, you are usually notified of the payments six months before the championship and it is simply a matter of having a better picture of costs and income, says Karl-Erik Nilsson, chairman of SvFF and vice president of Uefa, to SVT Sport.

"Surpluses are not earmarked"

According to Nilsson, the income for sponsors, audience and media at a men's championship is secured earlier than at a women's championship.

- When such revenues are secured, Uefa can stop releasing money to the national federations and that is positive.

Then we can use those funds to develop the entire business, says Nilsson.

He does not think that one should stare blindly at the fact that the advance money comes in connection with a men's promotion.

- The surpluses go to the national federations, they go to football in its entirety in each nation.

This money is not earmarked for specific areas such as men's or women's football.

1.5 years ago, Uefa launched a strategy work to increase gender equality in football.

The work is about getting more women to play football and increasing market and TV revenues for the women's Champions League and European Championships.

Nilsson understands the criticism

But the work is too slow.

Several Swedish women's players have previously expressed frustration over this.

- I can understand that there is impatience, but we are struggling and struggling in an international context where these issues are not always at the top of the agenda.

In that respect, we should probably be quite proud of our initiative to attract a completely new strategy for women's football in Europe.

But it is clear that I wish it went faster, says Nilsson.

For the ladies, the next European Championship final in England is 2022 - Nilsson has high expectations for the championship.

- There is capacity for more spectators than at the European Championships last in the Netherlands and there are individual dates for quarters and semis.

In addition, the opening match at Old Trafford and the final at Wembley, I think we can expect the sharpest European Championship in the history of football in 2022. And thus also more resources for the national federations also for the women's European Championships.