"Did not appreciate that we were only mentioned in bisats"

2021-06-04T04:40:11.474Z

The planned European Super League was not just a bad idea. It was a slap in the face to women's soccer. This is what Nadine Kessler, chief executive of the women's side of the European Football Association (Uefa), says. - The clubs mentioned were not directly the ones that had the most to do with women's football in the last ten years, Kessler says to TT.

It was not the case that the ladies were completely overlooked when the press release about the plans for a new super league hit like a bomb in mid-April.

But not far away.

"As soon as it is practically possible for the men, a corresponding women's tournament will also be launched, to help highlight and develop the women's sport", was all that was stated.

Former German national team star Nadine Kessler is head of women's football at Uefa.

As happy as she is that the plans for the league were quickly scrapped, she became just as annoyed when she saw the participating clubs' stepmotherly treatment of women's football.

Wrote open letter

In an open letter, she stated that the plans, if locked up, could have had devastating consequences for the women's side.

- There were several reasons why I was not happy.

First of all, I did not appreciate that we were only mentioned in a side sentence, something like "… and then we do the same thing on the women's side if it works for the men".

If you claim that you care about women's football, then you must come up with an equivalent plan.

She thinks that a breakaway on the women's side would have been an even worse idea if possible than for the men. Because even though all the twelve clubs involved - Milan, Inter, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - have made more or less substantial investments on the women's side in recent years, there are no pioneers involved.

- Although it is good that more men's clubs are investing in their women's teams, there is also a history in women's football that you cannot ignore.

I am thinking of your clubs in Sweden, I am thinking of clubs in Germany and of clubs in France.

Who would have thought of inviting Rosengård, Wolfsburg or other clubs that have been of great importance to the Champions League and the development of European football?

It is not okay to create a system that almost no one can aim for.

Depending on the gentlemen

She feels all the more confident when she watches the ladies' Champions League tournament, which is facing several changes for next season.

Group games are introduced for the first time, as well as fixed match days.

Uefa has also more than quadrupled the prize money, to the equivalent of around SEK 243 million.

All clubs that reach the group stage will be awarded at least 400,000 euros, just over 4 million kronor, which is five times as much as a place in the round of 16 gave this year.

It is still miles away from the astronomical sums on the men's side, but that comparison is not reasonable to make, says Kessler.

- We must be realistic.

Because if you look at the sums involved in the women's Champions League next year - it is unparalleled at club level on the women's side regardless of sport.

CLIP: 60 seconds: Why the new "super league" collapsed

Javascript is disabled

Javascript must be turned on to play video

The browser is not supported

SVT does not support playback in your browser.

We therefore recommend that you switch to another browser.

"Did not appreciate that we were only mentioned in bisats"

Javascript is disabled

The browser is not supported

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest