Unique “secret plan” to get rid of Reinfeldt

Published December 30, 2024 at 2:22 p.m.

Domestic. In a unique collaboration, several clubs are joining forces to remove Fredrik Reinfeldt as chairman of the Swedish Football Association. The plan is to replace Reinfeldt – who himself refuses to relinquish power – with Simon Åström, reveals Fotbollskanalen.

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Criticism against Fredrik Reinfeldt as chairman of the Swedish Football Association is only growing – and now a concrete plan to replace him has taken shape, according to Fotbollskanalen's information.

Simon Åström, current chairman of Swedish Elite Football (Sef), is being identified as a contender before the annual meeting in March.

Fredrik Reinfeldt, who was elected chairman in March 2023, has encountered strong opposition within football Sweden. Criticism has been directed at the politician's lack of involvement in the football movement, the drastic reshuffle of the SvFF office and his open interest in international positions within UEFA – despite Sweden seeking Euro 2029 together with Denmark.

Now several sources are stating that support for Åström, former CEO of Örebro SK and now vice chairman of the SvFF board, is growing at the same time. Districts such as Skåne, Gothenburg and five districts in the north are said to be behind him, and he is considered to be able to receive support from many elite clubs.

Unique strategic nomination
The plan is to gather broad support before Åström is officially launched as a candidate. According to information provided to Fotbollskanalen, a joint nomination from several clubs and districts is being discussed to signal strength. It is described as a unique solution.

An important factor is that Åström himself has not yet decided whether he will run, but he has reportedly expressed a willingness to consider the candidacy if the support is sufficient.

– There has been quite a lot of work in recent weeks with a lot of contacts between different parties and now there is substantial and collective support for changing the chairman, says a “central” source to Fotbollskanalen.

Refuses to quit voluntarily
The election committee, which is to recommend a candidate, has conducted interviews with the SvFF board – and according to reports, criticism of Reinfeldt emerges in the majority of the interviews. At the same time, he is a sitting chairman who refuses to voluntarily give up power, which makes the situation difficult for the election committee.

Reinfeldt himself has claimed that he will respect the election committee's decision if it goes against him.

– A election committee has to find who has support. I will respect that. Even if it goes against me, he told Fotbollskanalen in November.

The annual meeting will be held on March 22, and the nomination committee must submit its proposal by February 15.