October 9 – UEFA vice-president Karl-Erik Nilsson (pictured) is no longer the president of the Swedish Sports Confederation (RFE) after pressure over the European governing body’s decision to ease the blanket ban on Russian teams.
Nilsson had come under pressure after UEFA decided to readmit Russian youth teams to European competition, a decision that will be rubber-stamped later this week. The Swede had backed Russian readmission with a yes vote, going against the position of the Swedish FA as well as other national sporting bodies.
“It’s a very difficult decision to choose now to step to one side because I have felt a lot of dedication and happiness in the role,” said Nilsson in a statement. “But since it has shown itself to be difficult to combine my two roles, and that it can influence the trust in me and Swedish sports, I am still choosing to do it.”
Next year, Sweden is to host the U-17 Women’s European Championship, but according to the AP, at least 12 of UEFA’s 55 member federations including Ukraine, and England have said that they will not play against Russian teams.
Nilsson had become RFE president in May after relinquishing his role as president of the Swedish FA. He will however continue in his role as UEFA vice-president, a role that comes with a salary of €250,000. The role of the president of the Swedish Sports Confederation is rewarded more modestly, with a monthly salary of €6,700.
In Denmark, Jesper Moller, an ally of Nilsson, is facing pressure as well over defying the national position over Russian readmission.
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