shout. Three in Sweden’s squad, two in Holland, five in Iceland…
Not many moms have ever played in a group match at the European Championships. A welcome development, according to the players themselves.
The way back is the hardest thing I’ve done, but it’s worth it, Dagný Brynjarsdóttir tells Sportbladet.
So it’s not that I invest less in football. I’m there exactly the same Ellen as I’ve always been, says Ellen Robinson.
Pictures from WC France 2019 abound, but one in particular symbolizes Jessica McDonald’s long journey.
A photographer caught the American’s son, Jeremiah, spraying scraps of paper on her bent head after the US took the gold.
The same son who was sitting in a carriage along the sidelines while his mother was training.
My child is the reason why I am still inspired to follow my dreams. MacDonald made it clear that he was the one pushing me every day.
– I look at him and think “Come on, let’s do this for you.”
MacDonald gave birth to Jeremiah a decade ago, in 2012. A time when football moms weren’t the best of circumstances.
Everyone made no secret that they thought the son was a distraction.
– I had several coaches who were not fathers, which made it even more difficult. There were times when I had a bad practice or game, just like any other normal player, and I was told it was because of my baby,” MacDonald said.
Robinson: ‘It shows you can do both’
In 2021, FIFA introduced a new set of regulations which means, among other things, that players are entitled to 14 months of parental leave with parental allowance (at least two-thirds of the original salary).
The previous year, the Unionen Sports Federation conducted a survey of women’s and men’s football regarding salaries, working conditions and the possibility of parental leave.
The survey found that 51 percent of male players have children, compared to just 3 percent of women (in 2017, the same year as the European Championships in the Netherlands, the figure was a paltry 2 percent).
It took a long time, but in small steps we are moving in the right direction, concludes Jessica MacDonald.
With this in mind, it is remarkable that development is moving forward. Never before have so many mothers participated in the European Commission as in England 2022.
The Swedish team includes three mothers: Hedwig LindahlAnd the Lena Hurtig And the Ellen Robinsonthe latter of which was subjected to pregnancy.
– I think it’s cool. There are many examples now showing that it is possible to do both. Robinson says there are no problems and nothing to get in the way of a career.
Gone for 784 days
Her husband and son France, born at the end of 2020, have already visited England.
“I’m so glad I made it through and that there are more people who can do it,” Robinson adds.
Other examples in the tournament include Leni Onzia (Belgium), Demi Stokes (England), Almut Schulte (Germany), Sherida Spetses and Stephanie van der Gragt (Netherlands).
Physiologically, there is of course a clear difference whether or not the mother in question has gone through a pregnancy.
Ellen Robinson, for example, was away from the national team for 784 days before she had the chance again and finally joins this year’s EC team.
– I’m proud of the fact that I came back here after this trip, she says.
The guidelines differ between associations
Iceland has a total of five mothers (Sarah Björk Gunnarsdottir, Dagni Bringarsdottir, Seif Atladottir, Sandra Sigurardottir and Elisa Versarsdottir) in the band, four of whom bore the baby.
All confederations have different guidelines during the European Commission, whether or not a family is allowed to attend. Before covid put his claws into the tournament, Hurtig, Lindahl and Elin Rubensson could meet their kids in relative days.
Something that gives energy, according to Hurtig.
– Yes really. It was amazing, she says.
Unzia, Spetses, van der Gragget and Stokes can also see their children on special days because Belgium, the Netherlands and England have similar policies.
On the other hand, the German Almut Schulte is allowed to accompany his partner and children throughout the tournament, as the association also provides a “supporting person”.
SvFF Tailors Solutions
The five mothers in the Iceland team are allowed to bring children under one year old. However, the Icelandic Football Association told the BBC that there were no set rules and that each case was dealt with individually.
Sweden’s national football team manager, Marika Domanski-Livors, believes they are also adapting rather than following general guidelines such as age limits.
– In the latest agreement that went into effect for the women’s and men’s national team last winter, there are messages that will make it easier for players to combine parenthood with national team matches, both at regular gatherings and during tournaments, says Domansky-Lefors.
– In cases where they become relevant, dialogues take place with players to design solutions that fit the needs at hand.
“so grateful”
Dagný Brynjarsdóttir gave birth to her son Brynjar four years ago. After the match against France, which meant elimination from the group stage, I headed straight to the stands to hug him.
– He’s my favorite person and I’m always grateful when he’s in matches. During the time he had the virus he obviously couldn’t be there, so I love being here and watching as I pursue my dream even though I’m a mother, Bringarsdottir says.
Just to give him the chance to be in EC surrounded by great athletes. I think it’s good for him to grow up in such an environment.
Bringersdottir, 30, is back with American Portland Thorns and moves to West Ham in the Women’s Super League in 2021.
The Icelandic applauds both clubs.
Portland covered the expenses so that husband Omar could travel with her to play games when the son was still a baby. West Ham allow her to bring Brainger in for training if needed.
Robinson: “Don’t bet less”
Being separated from her child, as now during EC, Brynjarsdóttir thinks it’s tough.
– I’ve been on the road for three weeks. So, even though getting out of the house is boring, I think he’s glad my mom is back home now, she says.
It is hard to describe the feeling when she held her son in her arms:
– It doesn’t matter how disappointed or sad you are after the match. Once you hold your child in your arms, you cannot be sad, you do not want to show him that you are sad.
Ellen Robinson, who jumped to the 5-0 win over Portugal, believes the loss is manageable now.
— but he’s clearly likely to feel it in the last few weeks, says Robinson.
– At the same time, I’m in my bubbles and we often talk on Facetime, so there were no problems.
Do you feel that the role of mother has changed you as a person compared to WC 2019?
– I wouldn’t say that I changed as a person. I might be a little calmer about everything. Now there is one thing more important than anything else, and that is my son. So it’s not that I invest less in football. There I am exactly the same Eileen as I have always been.
“It will be more in three years.”
During the 2017 European Championships in the Netherlands, Iceland had two mothers on the team, as did Sweden (Hedvig Lindahl and Nila Fischer).
– But there wasn’t much talk about it after that. Maybe no one knows that. Bringarsdottir says the Icelandic media has not reported on this.
She, like Robinson, went through a pregnancy. An enormous burden on the body, psychologically and mentally.
It is important to show that you can do both. It is very difficult but you do not have to choose. If you want to do both, you should be able to. It’s important to show young girls, Bringarsdottir says.
The midfielder adds that the trip back is “the hardest thing I’ve done in my life”.
– You need support from your club and national team because I think it is impossible to do it alone, says Brynjarsdóttir.
– I’ve had a lot of advice from the other moms on the team and the more we get, the more we can learn and lead by example.
Do you think there will be more mums at the upcoming European Championships?
– 100 percent. Five years ago there wasn’t much. I don’t know how many there were at the time, but I heard it was 11 or 12 or 12 now and in three years there will be more.
