I asked about the war – they said it's normal, says former football chief on South Sudan trip

Håkan Sjöstrand, former Secretary General of the Swedish Football Association, shared a stark contrast between the glittering image of top-tier football and the harsh realities faced in conflict zones like South Sudan. He described seeing the sport played on dusty fields in the war-torn nation, a world away from the World Cup's glamour.

In an interview with Dagens Nyheter, Sjöstrand recounted his experiences, highlighting the profound disconnect between the sport's global spectacle and its grassroots struggles in regions grappling with instability. He noted that for many in South Sudan, the ongoing conflict is simply considered 'normal.'

Beyond his observations in South Sudan, Sjöstrand also addressed his departure from the Swedish Football Association. He expressed doubts about the widely held perception of an economic crisis within the organization when he left his post. His comments suggest a more complex financial picture than publicly understood.

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I asked about the war – they said it's normal.