Background: Since the late 1990s the economy has become an important part of the football club activities. With increased revenues, a financial framework was needed and in 2002 the "Elitlicens" introduced for this purpose. Elitlicensen is divided into different criteria, the study dealt only with the economic criteria, the requirement that clubs in Allsvenskan should maintain a positive shareholders' equity.

Aim: The study aims to study items and key figures in the annual financial reports of the clubs that participated in Allsvenskan every year during the period 2010-2014 to examine whether and how the clubs reached Elitlicensens criterion for positive shareholders´ equity. Furthermore, the aim is to explain the club's actions based on Elitlicensens criterion of positive shareholders´ equity.

Method: A case study of the AIK, BK Häcken, Djurgårdens IF's, Helsingborgs IF's, IF Elfsborg, IFK Gothenburg, Kalmar FF and Malmö FF's annual financial reports during the period 2010-2014 where selected items and key figures audited. Through the theoretical framework with Soft budget constraint and the Fund theory the clubs actions tries to explain.

Result: All clubs have reported positive shareholders´ equity 2010-2014. This has been maintained through player sales, money from the UEFA Europa Cups and capital contributions from stakeholders. There have been clear hints of soft budget constraint through both soft credit and soft subsidy AIK, Djurgårdens IF, Helsingborgs IF and IFK Gothenburg. A tendency to use of the Fund theory could be seen some years in BK Hacken, IF Elfsborg, IFK Gothenburg and Kalmar FF.

Conclusion: The study shows that all audited clubs reached Elitlicensens requirements in positive shareholders´ equity 2010-2014. Selected theories provide no coherent picture of the clubs' actions regarding shareholders´ equity. Further research is needed in this area, which also take into sporting success and club financial strategies.