In the autumn of 2021, SVT published an investigation that showed that a manager at the football association had incorrectly paid out 560,000 kronor from the project "All are different - different is good" to associations where the manager himself had a key role. Secretary-General Håkan Sjöstrand had himself approved a payment of 50,000 kronor to an association where an SvFF manager had a key role.
"Punished" two channels
At the same time, negotiations were initiated regarding the broadcasting rights for, among other things, the Swedish Cup and the women's national team. Both SVT and TV4 were interested.
Now, Olof Lundh claims that Sjöstrand chose Viaplay, despite the channel's offer "not being much better than SVT and TV4."
"The association's secretary-general wanted to punish SVT and TV4, which had investigated him, as a series of revelations led to humiliation when the board went against him and reported him to the police against his will,” writes Lundh in the book, which is released on September 25.
"Pure lies"
Sjöstrand responds in the book and rejects the allegations:
"I have over the years become quite hardened and accustomed to responding to various claims. I have full understanding that questions should be asked and that investigations are an important part of a living democracy. But it is still remarkable to have to comment on pure lies, especially when they are based on anonymous information."
Sjöstrand stopped as secretary-general on December 31, 2023.
