Sweden – Support for parents in the national teams

The agreement applies equally to the men’s and women’s national teams.

“We’ve seen players having trouble combining parenthood with playing for the national team. Unfortunately, many players, especially women, are also on short-term contracts with their clubs, which may leave them vulnerable to injuries when out of contract. By offering parental support and full insurance coverage, we can hopefully make things easier for players who represent our national teams,” said the Swedish FA general secretary, Håkan Sjöstrand.

Parental backing

The parental support offered is available for players who are the sole custodians of a child or otherwise have a family situation that makes participation in international matches difficult. The agreement commits the Swedish FA to financing and facilitating the help and support the player needs in order to participate.

“We’re happy with this; it’s good to have a new agreement in place. The support offered is a good step forward to getting us the best possible conditions for success,” said Caroline Seger, captain of the women’s senior national team.

The new deal is a joint agreement between the Swedish FA and both the men’s and women’s national teams. It covers all participation in the senior national teams but does not include compensation or bonuses for any upcoming final tournaments. The agreement runs from 2022 to 2024.

This article originally appeared in UEFA Direct 197