Why this story matters:
It's well documented that women athletes work for far lower pay than their male counterparts in most countries, in most sports, at most levels.
When accepting one of Sweden's top footballing awards, Nilla Fischer spoke out about the need for equality between men and women in the sport, a campaign she has long supported.
One week on from the award, she addressed the issue again on Instagram.
She urged men not to take the message personally, or interpret it negatively -- after some of the men's national team said they felt "unfairly" targeted -- but to focus on standing up for equality in whatever way they can.
In doing this, Fischer highlighted the fact that it often happens that groups of men take calls for equality or equal pay as a personal attack, often diverting the conversation and leaving the key issues undiscussed.
"Listen to what I am saying," she added. "Men, try to be a role model for other men in the fight for equality."
Details from the story:
- Nilla Fischer is a Swedish footballer for the national team and this year won the Diamontbollen (Diamond Ball), an annual award for the country's best woman footballer
- She used her acceptance speech to draw attention to the need for gender equality in football, addressing young women directly
- She urged keen women footballers to keep going and "never" give up the fight for equality, adding "we have no more fucks to give"
- Several members of the men's national team said they felt targeted by her words, with captain Andreas Granqvist saying her comments were "unfair"
- Granqvist also revealed that the men's team offered to lower their salaries in order for the women to achieve pay parity, and said this should have been made public
