When the grant ceiling was introduced – the decision was made at the National Sports Federation Meeting (Rim) in 2021 – the Football Association threatened to leave the National Sports Federation (RF).
It was then stated that football received 14 percent of the government grant and the reimbursement ceiling would mean that football would lose around 25-30 million kronor in revenue. Football took the Rim decision to an arbitration committee, but lost the battle.
"Misleading"
From a fairness perspective, the Football Association still believes that the ceiling rule is incorrect.
We know what social benefits and social gains that sports create throughout the country, but football as the largest sport is particularly involved and creates a great benefit, says Simon Åström and continues:
Then we think it becomes misleading that football-playing boys and girls are valued lower than children in other sports.
There has been a proposal from the National Sports Board out for consultation on a phase-out of the ceiling rule, but the proposal did not receive sufficient support in the movement, says Åström.
Now the proposal from the board is that the ceiling remains, but is raised from ten to twelve percent. This would mean that the Swedish Football Association's support increases by eight to ten million kronor, writes RF in a press release.
A step in the right direction, says Åström.
Solidarity thinking
We have taken this on board now and will take a closer look at it and talk to the sports movement and listen to how the views are before the National Sports Federation Meeting, says he.
At the same time, large federations must have a form of solidarity thinking towards medium-sized and smaller special sports federations, says Åström.
We as a large federation have a great responsibility to take when it comes to our contribution as a whole. It can be about having some form of economic solidarity model built into this, but also that we are good at being engaged and involved in the National Sports Federation's work in general. That there is some form of balancing force in this, we think is very reasonable.
A decision on the matter will be made at Rim in Gothenburg on May 23-25.
Every year, the National Sports Federation distributes approximately 1.8 billion kronor in government grants to special sports federations, sports clubs, and RF-Sisu districts.
Most of the support goes to sports clubs in the form of activity support (LOK support) and various projects.
A large part of the support is distributed to special sports federations and a smaller part to RF-Sisu districts.
In addition to the grant ceiling remaining but being raised slightly, the National Sports Board proposes to the National Sports Federation Meeting in May that a guaranteed amount to the federations is introduced. This means that the smallest federations are guaranteed an amount that is higher than before.
Source: National Sports Federation.
