“We have to do these kinds of things to reach out,” said team goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who was unable to feature in the video due to an injury, to the Expressen newspaper.
The video, which was posted earlier in the week, featured a scene-by-scene homage to the opening clip of popular US TV drama Baywatch, complete with the footballers in red bikinis running in slow motion along a beach.
Lindahl explained that the video was made “to get a lot of hits on YouTube to spread women’s football” however admitted that it was unfortunate that “sex appeal” was needed as a catalyst.
“It’s not the first video KDFF has done, there are several versions. But what’s interesting is that this one has got so many views. It’s because sex sells, and it’s really terrible that this is how it is,” she said.
“It’s not the first film that’s been taken down. For us to share our message we need to do these kinds of things. but we don’t have the money for marketing, so what can we do?” she asked.
The coach of the team, Mikael Forsberg defended the video’s content.
“It’s not the management but the girls who made the film. It doesn’t cross the line. It’s no different to the sports ads with Ronaldo and Beckham,” he told the paper.
“Strangely, when it comes to girls’ soccer it doesn’t work the same way as it does with the guys.”
It remains unclear exactly why the video was removed from YouTube.
The Local/og
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