Karl-Erik Nilsson is set to leave his role as Swedish Football Association President in March next year ©Getty Images

Karl-Erik Nilsson is set to step down as Swedish Football Association (SvFF) President to run for the position as chair of the Swedish Sports Confederation (RF) next year.

Nilsson, who has also been first vice-president of UEFA since 2017, plans to leave his current role in March, running for the RF post when the RF gathers in Uppsala in May.

"I have received a number of requests from several different special sports associations to run for office and after a long period of consideration I have said yes," he said.

"The assignment feels important as well as enticing and inspiring."

Nominations for the position as chair of the RF are set to close on December 31.

Nilsson has been SvFF President since March 2012, and has recently been vocal on a host of topical issues in football.

Sweden - a potential opponent in a Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying playoff final - joined Poland and the Czech Republic in refusing to face Russia at any venue, after FIFA had initially permitted Russia to compete playing home matches at a neutral venue under the Football Union of Russia banner following the invasion of Ukraine.

Sweden earned silver in women's football at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ©Getty Images
Sweden earned silver in women's football at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ©Getty Images

FIFA and UEFA later excluded Russia from their competitions, although Belarus remain able to compete, albeit with home matches taking place at a neutral venue.

Nilsson has vowed that the SvFF "would not have actively supported" FIFA President Gianni Infantino had the Congress been held after his controversial remarks defending Qatar from criticism over its human rights record prior to the World Cup.

However, the Swiss official - also an international Olympic Committee member - is set for unopposed re-election in March after no alternative candidate was nominated.

There has been significant change within Swedish sport in recent months, with the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) appointing Åsa Edlund Jönsson as its new secretary general to succeed the long-serving Gunilla Lindberg.

SOK President Mats Årjes has also stepped aside from the role after being charged with sexual harassment - a charge he denies.

During Nilsson's tenure as SvFF President, Sweden has held the UEFA Women's European Championship in 2013 and launched a joint bid for the 2025 edition with Denmark, Finland and Norway.

Sweden also finished third at the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2019 and earned silver in women's football at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.