From EUR 8 million to EUR 16 million, corresponding to around SEK 170 million.
This is a large percentage increase that has taken place in the total prize money for the women's football European Championships in England.
- It is good that they increase the prize money, says goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl before she continues:
- But I do not think it means much if you still increase on the men's side so the gap is still bigger.
I'm not very impressed so far.
It's good for us involved, but there should not be so many positive headlines, she says.
In last summer's men's European Championship, the total prize money amounted to as much as 371 million euros, which was an increase of 70 million euros from the European Football Championship 2016, and the 24 participating teams received around 90 million kroner just to participate.
"Try to close the gap"
The distance between ladies and men will thus be greater for each championship, even if the increase in the ladies' levels increases in percentage more than the men's.
- We all know that this is what it looks like, so they may well try to close the gap instead.
That is the only thing I want to say in that discussion, says Lindahl.
Magdalena Eriksson agrees with Hedvig Lindahl.
- It is easy to say that it is progressing in women's football and that you reach new heights, but then you hear all the time that the gap is increasing, she says.
Eriksson describes it as a "two-part sword".
- It is clear that we should praise that it is progressing in women's football and it is cool to be part of the development, but we should not accept that the gap increases.
I do not think so and it is something we must collectively fight for and raise our voices, she says.