The Swedish women’s football team had to show genitals in a ‘humiliating’ World Cup gender test

Swedish soccer star Nilla Fischer has revealed that the women’s national team were forced to strip naked and “show their genitals” so doctors could prove they were female during the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany.

“We’ve been told not to shave for the next few days and to show our genitals for the doctor,” Fischer wrote in her new book, “I Didn’t Even Say Half Of It.”

“No one understands the thing about shaving, but we do what we’re told and think ‘how did it get to this point?'” Why are we forced to do this now, there must be other ways to do this. Should we refuse?

At the same time, nobody wants to jeopardize the possibility of playing at a World Cup. We just need to get the shit done, no matter how sick and demeaning it feels.”

The Swedish central defender who earned 194 caps for her country further opened up about her experience in an interview with the Swedish aftonbladet newspaper.

Sweden’s team come together ahead of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-final between Sweden and Australia at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Stadium Augsburg on July 10, 2011 in Augsburg, Germany

“I understand what I need to do and quickly pull down my sweatpants and underwear at the same time,” she said.

The physio nods and says “yup” and then looks at the doctor who has his back to my doorway. He makes a note and walks down the hallway to knock on the next door.

“Once everyone in our team has been checked, that is, their vaginas have been exposed, our team doctor can sign that the Swedish women’s national team consists only of women.”

Two weeks before the tournament kicked off in Germany, FIFA released its updated gender recognition policy, which is still in effect. The rules require teams to sign a statement stating that all players involved in the tournament are of ‘the correct gender’.

Inspections were enforced as Nigerian, Ghanaian and South African teams protested speculation that some of the players deployed by Equatorial Guinea may have been male.

But it’s unclear why the players were forced to reveal their genitals, rather than submit a simple swab for examination, as is customary.

Fischer said the examination by team physios meant the players underwent the ordeal in a “safe environment,” but it was clear she was unhappy with the way the situation was handled.

“We had a very safe atmosphere in the team. So it was probably the best environment to do it in. But it’s an extremely strange situation and generally not a comfortable way to do it.’

Nilla Fischer of Sweden women during the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 semifinal match between Netherlands and Sweden of America at Stade de Lyon on July 03, 2019 in Lyon

Fischer defends close to the goal line in this photo taken during a World Cup match in 2019

FIFA said it “took note of recent comments made by Nilla Fischer about her experience and gender verification tests conducted by the Swedish national team at the 2011 Women’s World Cup” in response to Fischer’s interview.

Meanwhile, Mats Börjesson, the Swedish team doctor for the women’s team at the time of the 2011 World Cup, told Aftonbladet that although the checks were not carried out under ideal conditions, their aim was justified.

“FIFA is not doing this to be mean to anyone,” he said, adding that the checks were carried out as part of several measures to “create fairness for girls so they don’t train all their lives and then someone comes in with an unreasonable advantage’.

The revelation comes as former Arsenal player turned pundit Ian Wright spoke out against European broadcasters over the lack of promotion around this year’s Women’s World Cup, which kicks off in Australia in just over a month.

Speaking in the latest episode of his podcast Wrighty’s house speaking to guests Musa Okwonga and Ryan Hunn, Wright said he was surprised that with just six weeks until the tournament kicks off, it has seen little promotion across Europe as broadcasters and FIFA struggle to agree TV rights.

Wright said England’s Lionesses, who lifted the Euros trophy at Wembley in front of 87,000 fans in 2022, had been denied sponsorship deals and that their ‘biggest moments’ were in the spotlight.

A frustrated Ian Wright, on his way to Australia and New Zealand to report on the tournament, said the Women’s World Cup was hopelessly promoted with six weeks to go.

Last month, the government called on FIFA, BBC and ITV to strike a deal after fears of a UK TV blackout were raised.

For some of the largest football countries, broadcasting agreements have still not been concluded prior to the tournament.

In the passionate outburst, Wright said some football fans in the UK were unaware the tournament was even going on due to the lack of publicity.

He said: ‘Whatever is going on with the broadcasters and FIFA. They need to sit down and resolve [it]. The Women’s World Cup can’t take place all over Europe, man.

“How can we not show up? This would never happen in the men’s game.

He continued, “Look at the amount of opportunities these girls probably missed in terms of sponsorship deals leading up to it.

‘It doesn’t look good. You walk down the street and people don’t even know it [it’s happening].’