What has just come to the forefront of news stories, women’s rights and privacy have been appearing to no longer be protected after the Swedish soccer team’s former captain revealed that the female players had to “show their genitalia” to a team medical worker to prove they were women. This occurred during the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
“We were told that we should not shave ‘down there’ in the coming days and that we will show our genitalia for the doctor,” former center back Nilla Fischer wrote in her new book titled “I Didn’t Even Say Half Of It.”
Fischer, 38, played 194 times for her country and discusses in her book that a female physiotherapist conducted the invasive checks on behalf of a team doctor.
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
“[We think:] ‘Why are we forced to do this now, there has to be other ways to do this. Should we refuse?’” she wrote. “At the same time no one wants to jeopardize the opportunity to play at a World Cup. We just have to get the s— done, no matter how sick and humiliating it feels.”
Allegations were made by Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa back then, accusing members of the Equatoria Guinea squad had three men on their team – Genoveva Anonma, Slimata Simpore and Biliguisa Simpore. According to Sweden team doctor Mats Borjesson, FIFA demanded gender checks, soon after.
Fischer made a point that although the environment surrounding the team felt “safe,” it was unclear why the players were asked to show their privates when swab tests could have been sufficient in determining genders, via DNA.
“The physiotherapist nods and says, ‘Yeah,’ and then looks out at the doctor, who is standing with his back to my doorway,” she said. “When everyone in our team is checked, that is to say has exposed their vagina, our team doctor can sign off that the Swedish women’s national football team only consists of women.”
“We have taken note of recent comments made by Nilla Fischer around her experiences and gender verification testing conducted by the Swedish national team at the 2011 Women’s World Cup,” the world governing body said in a statement.
What is expected to happen moving forward is still unknown.
Add comment