| UEFA | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1904 |
| FIFA affiliation | 1904 |
| UEFA affiliation | 1954 |
| President | Lars-Åke Lagrell |
The Swedish Football Association (Swedish: Svenska Fotbollförbundet; SvFF) is the governing and head body of football in Sweden. It organises the football leagues — Allsvenskan for men and Damallsvenskan for women — and the men's and women's national teams. It is based in Solna and is a founding member of both FIFA and UEFA. SvFF is supported by 24 district organisations.
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Svenska Fotbollförbundet (SvFF) was founded on the 18th December 1904 and is the sports federation responsible for the promotion and administration of organised football in Sweden and also represents the country the outside of Sweden. SvFF is affiliated to the Swedish Sports Confederation (RF) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
Lars-Åke Lagrell has been the President since 1991. In 2009 there were 3,359 clubs affiliated to the Svenska Fotbollförbundet with a total of more than a million members, of whom about 500,000 were active players. Together, they accounted for almost one-third of the total Swedish sports movement activities.[1]
SvFF administers Sweden's national football team, the Swedish women's national football team, other football teams and leagues including the Allsvenskan and Superettan. The motto of Swedish football – "one club in every village, football for all" – is reflected in the democratic constitution of Swedish football. All football competition in the nation is arranged by the SvFF and its 24 district organisations. The clubs are voting members at the annual meetings of the district organisations. The district organisations and the elite clubs are entitled to vote at the F.A.'s general meeting.[2]
Since 1999 SvFF has been the sole owner of Sweden's national stadium, the Råsunda Stadium in Solna. The national arena also houses the SvFF. In 2012 a new 50,000 seated National Stadium ('Swedbank Arena') will be completed. The new venue will also be situated in Solna, not far from the present one.[3]
Since 1995 in November of each year the Swedish Football Association Football Gala is held which includes the award for the best male player (Guldbollen) and female players (Diamantbollen).
SvFF had a turnover 2008 of 554 MSEK.[4]
The first Swedish football championships were held in 1896 but it was 7 years later in 1903 that the Riksidrottsförbundet was formed which was to be the precursor to the Svenska Fotbollförbundet. The new organisation had a football and hockey section (hockey being the term for bandy at that time and not ice-hockey or field hockey). In 1904 Sweden was one of 7 nations that founded FIFA.[5]
In 1906 the name Svenska Fotbollförbundet (Swedish Football Association) was officially accepted and the following year SvFF was officially voted into FIFA. On the 12th July 1908, Sweden's first international match was played in which Norway were defeated 11–3 in Göteborg. However the Olympics were a disappointment for Sweden, losing 1–12 to England and 0–2 to Holland.[6]
| Swedish Football League Structure |
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Allsvenskan (Tier 1) |
| Swedish Football Ladies League Structure |
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Damallsvenskan (Tier 1) |
Svenska Fotbollförbundet is responsible for organising the following competitions:
Swedish football is built on a single pyramid league system. While the SvFF administers the top leagues, the 24 district or regional associations administers youth football and the lower tier leagues from Division 4 (men) and Division 3 (ladies), respectively, and further below.[7]
The 24 district organisations are as follows:
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