When translation goes wrong! Sweden women’s national football team blunder.

Here’s a light hearted story from one of Scandinavia’s biggest countries, Sweden. This is a prime example of translation services gone wrong. A video was launched as part of a campaign to promote the Swedish women’s national football team ahead of the upcoming women’s FIFA World Cup which kicks off on 6th June 2015 in Canada.

The promotional video in question features the slogan and hashtag of “#klappaförsverige” which when translated into English is “#clapforsweden” which went viral and spread throughout the world wide web like wildfire.

The video was originally intended to garner support for the Swedish team’s effort in this summer’s tournament but rather than provoking a considerable backing for the Sweden nation team, the rather unfortunate slogan produced quite a few laughs and giggles.

The reason for the outbreak of laughter and comedic effect is in the English translation of the slogan #clapforsweden. You see ‘clap’ is an English slang for the venereal disease gonorrhea. So they essentially saying gonorrhea for Sweden, which is why the video has spread (no pun intended) throughout the English speaking world. Ironically gonorrhea is Sweden’s most sexually transmitted disease.

The Swedish Football Federation’s spokesman, Niklas Bodell chose to look on it positively, accepting it and even seeing any publicity is good publicity when he had this to say when speaking to news agency TT. “This kind of thing happens, we have chosen to smile a little at the translation and instead rejoice over the fact that it has given the national squad so much attention.”

Twitter users were quick to pick up on the video, here are the best tweets. Johan Rylander (@rylanderjohan), a journalist from Gothenburg tweeted “I wonder who thought of this hashtag? Google what clap means in English…” Whilst @LarsSund1 suggested “Swedes think they master the English language. They don’t.” and @nvlk21 wrote “More gonorrhea for the people!”

Daniel Ahonen, who plays Swedish club IK Sirius, tweeted: “Clap quickly translated means gonorrhea. The hashtag #ClapforSweden is pretty funny. Good PR people over at the ladies’ side!”

Lastly Adam Waller (@FRfotbollAdam) said “Unfortunate hashtag when translated to English… Nevertheless, wish the team well for the #WorldCup.”

Sweden are to commence their FIFA women’s World Cup 2016 campaign on the 8^th June against a strong Nigeria team but face stiff opposition for the crowning glory from the likes of tournament favourites and joint record holders USA and Germany, Brazil, France, holders Japan and host Canada.

Although Sweden are not among the favourites the national team coach Pia Sundhage thinks they could be the dark horses of the competition saying “The central line and the goalkeeper are important, if we can get ourselves together whilst there we can go far. Caroline Seger, Lotta Schelin and Nilla Fischer are three world players who can inspire others to play well too.”

Whether or not this is true or the worldwide attraction from the viral video helps, remains to be seen, we wish Sweden well in the world cup.