'Catastrophe' for Alisha Lehmann and Switzerland! Euro 2025 hosts see funding for tournament cut drastically in controversial move that has caused 'outrage' in parliament

Swiss publication SRF states the country's Federal Council does not want to spend as much money on the women's Euros, where Aston Villa star Alisha Lehmann will be the face of the tournament, as originally planned. The report says 15 million Swiss Francs (£13.5m) were initially earmarked but that has fallen to 4 million Swiss Francs (£3.6m) - something that has been widely criticised.

GLP National Councillor Corina Gredig, who is co-president of the parliamentary group “Euro 25”, said there is outrage in parliament. “If you say now that you don’t have any money, then it will turn into a grumpy tournament," she told SRF.

Meanwhile, SP National Councilor Matthias Aebischer, president of the parliamentary sports group, said this was the wrong message for young girls looking to get into the sport.

He commented: "And now the Federal Council comes and says: We are not giving any money for the 2025 Women’s European Championship in Switzerland. This is simply a catastrophe.”

Thun local councilor Katharina Ali-Oesch added: “Pure disappointment. We were expecting something completely different than what has now come from the federal government and that poses major challenges for everyone."

The 2025 tournament is taking place in eight Swiss cities: Zurich, Basel, Bern, Thun, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Sion and Geneva. The fact that funds have been significantly slashed is not a good look for promoting women's football in Switzerland and, arguably, sends a negative message about the game, too. Moreover, the less funds a tournament has, the less likely it will be will run smoothly; plus, they beat France, Poland, and a joint Scandinavian bid to stage the competition - one that others desperately wanted to host.

The 14th edition of the women's Euros is scheduled to get underway on July 2, 2025, and will be made up of 16 teams. England will be looking to retain their title when the tournament comes round in just under 18 months' time.