The Swedish sports world was rocked this week with the news that Swedish Sports Confederation (RF) President, Stefan Nilsson, has resigned following a controversial vote in favor of Russia hosting the 2021 UEFA European Football Championship.
Nilsson had been the head of the RF since 2012 and had been a vocal advocate for Sweden’s bid to host the tournament. The RF had been one of the most vocal supporters of Sweden’s bid, and Nilsson had been a key figure in the campaign.
However, the RF’s decision to vote in favor of Russia hosting the tournament has caused outrage in Sweden. Many have accused the RF of being too close to Russia and of putting politics ahead of sport.
Nilsson has now stepped down from his position, citing personal reasons. In a statement, he said: “I have decided to resign as president of the Swedish Sports Confederation. I have done so out of respect for the organization and its members, and in order to ensure that the RF can continue to work in a positive and constructive manner.”
The RF has said that it will now begin the process of finding a new president. It is expected that the new president will be chosen by the end of the year.
The controversy surrounding the RF’s decision to vote in favor of Russia hosting the tournament has been a major blow to Swedish football. It has also raised questions about the role of politics in sport and how decisions are made at the highest levels.
It remains to be seen how the RF will move forward following Nilsson’s resignation. However, it is clear that this is a major setback for Swedish football and that it will take some time for the organization to recover from this controversy.
