Per-Olov Börjeson, a Malmö art dealer known for his provocative stunts, once offered Malmö FF’s women’s team a million kronor in sponsorship in 1995. However, there was a catch: the team had to wear a new uniform he designed. Unbeknownst to the team, Börjeson had invited the press to witness the unveiling of the ”uniform,” which turned out to be a skimpy outfit of blue and white ribbons modeled by Annika Nilsson. The MFF players, including Annelie Carjemo, were humiliated and immediately left. Börjeson’s stunt backfired, drawing widespread criticism for its sexist and disrespectful nature. Despite increasing his offer to twelve million kronor, MFF refused to accept the sponsorship. This incident underscored the underlying disrespect towards women’s football at the time, particularly given MFF women’s team success.
Malmö FF’s women’s team enjoyed a period of dominance in the 1990s, winning four Swedish championships between 1990 and 1994. They were a force to be reckoned with, boasting numerous national team players. However, despite their sporting achievements, the team faced significant financial constraints and unequal treatment compared to their male counterparts. They had inferior training facilities and were responsible for their own laundry. This disparity highlighted the broader challenges faced by women’s football, even within successful clubs.
Despite their on-field success, financial difficulties plagued Malmö FF as a whole, especially after the men’s team was relegated from the top division in 1999 after 62 seasons. This financial instability impacted the women’s team, who continued to lack resources and support. By the early 2000s, the women’s team faced a difficult decision. Despite the increasing popularity of women’s football following the Swedish national team’s silver medal at the 2003 World Cup, Malmö FF’s women’s section struggled to secure substantial sponsorships.
In 2004, the women’s section separated from Malmö FF, forming their own club, initially named Malmö FF Dam. This decision was driven by a desire for greater autonomy and control over their own destiny, although Gert Sparr, the chairman at the time, later revealed he was essentially forced out. The newly independent club faced immediate financial struggles and was restricted from seeking sponsorships from companies already backing the men’s team, further hindering their progress. However, a lifeline arrived in the form of a sponsorship deal with the skincare company LdB, owned by financier Kent Widding Persson, though it came with the condition of a name change to LdB FC Malmö in 2007. This marked the end of an era for the women’s team playing under the Malmö FF banner, a name they had carried for 37 years.
Under the LdB banner, the club enjoyed seven years of sporting success, winning three Swedish championships. However, the financial burden eventually proved too much for LdB, leading the club to seek support from the municipality. This support was contingent on the club’s commitment to community engagement, specifically targeting girls from the Rosengård district. With further backing from IT entrepreneur Dan Olofsson, LdB FC Malmö merged with FC Rosengård in 2012, creating a new entity that would dominate Swedish women’s football for the following decade. This merger, while securing the team’s future, further distanced them from their Malmö FF origins.
In a twist of fate, the growing trend of established men’s clubs investing in women’s teams finally reached Malmö FF in 2019. A member vote overwhelmingly supported the re-establishment of a women’s team. However, a controversial proposal to take over another club’s place in the league system was rejected, forcing MFF to start from scratch in the fourth division in 2020. The new MFF women’s team quickly rose through the ranks, achieving almost uninterrupted success over the next few years. This swift ascendancy set the stage for a unique derby match against FC Rosengård, the very club that evolved from the original Malmö FF women’s team. This historic encounter in 2025, fueled by the financial backing of the successful men’s team, marks a new chapter in the complex history of women’s football in Malmö, a history woven with both triumph and struggle, separation and reunion.
