(New York Post) Swedish soccer players had to “show their genitalia” to a team medical worker to prove they were females during the in Germany, the team’s former captain has revealed.
Former center back Nilla Fischer, 38, who played 194 times for her country, wrote in a new book titled “I Didn’t Even Say Half Of It” that a female physiotherapist conducted the invasive checks on behalf of a team doctor, the Times of London reported.
“We were told that we should not shave ‘down there’ in the coming days and that we will show our genitalia for the doctor,” Fischer wrote.
“[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.”
Swedish soccer players were instructed to “show their genitalia” to a medical worker to prove they were females during the 2011 Women’s World Cup, former team captain Nilla Fischer says in a new book.Getty Images
Fischer said she didn’t understand why they had to go through the invasive process when there were other ways to determine their genders.FIFA via Getty Images
Fischer noted that the environment on the team felt “safe,” but that it was unclear why the players were asked to show their privates when swab tests could have been used to determine genders through DNA instead.
“I understand what I have to do and quickly pull down the training pants and panties at the same time,” Fischer told Swedish news outlet Aftonbladet, according to the Times of London.
“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.”
Nilla Fischer of Sweden (R) waits in the tunnel prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 3rd Place Playoff between Sweden and France.
