After FHM's message: "Extremely long-awaited"

Bert Andersson has been chairman of the Gothenburg Football Association since 2001. The year with corona has tested both him and the business.

Therefore, Wednesday's announcement from the Public Health Agency that youth sports are opened up for matches is very gratifying in his eyes.

- It is very positive.

We have really tried to talk to FHM and the government about this for a long time, but it has not been that simple.

It has felt a bit daunting, but today it feels really good, says Bert Andersson.

Bert Andersson believes that the report from the Swedish Sports Confederation that sports among children decreased by about ten percent during the corona pandemic opened up for Wednesday's announcement.

- We have tried to influence this via the Swedish Football Association, we felt a little frustrated and that no one has really listened to us.

But then came this RF report a couple of weeks ago that you lose in youth sports, and it is the opposite of what FHM wants.

We have a subjective opinion in this, but when you get facts and black and white, it becomes different, says Bert Andersson.

Worried about the business

While he feels a joy over the news, there is also a concern.

- My big concern is what is coming now.

The concern comes now when we try to kick start the business for the holes that exist, and the children who have given up.

Here I think there is a dark figure.

We have heard worrying conversations in the district about teams that have closed down and young people who have resigned.

So now the work begins for our youth leaders and small associations, says Bert Andersson.

The news also came in Gothenburg some time ago that the big youth football tournament, Gothia Cup, will not be held in 2021. However, Bert Andersson may not think that Wednesday's announcement changed that decision.

- I can not judge it, but I do not think so. I've talked a lot with the management of the Gothia Cup. It is this with entry and exit restrictions that is their big problem. I know they talked about some scaled-down variant, but there was too much uncertainty about it. And that is an incredible pity, says Bert Andersson.