The Swedish midfielder Maja Gothberg has secured a decisive victory against Serie A side Lazio, after the club failed to honor a contract that remained unsigned when she disclosed her pregnancy.
During the 2023‑24 season she made 29 appearances, helping Lazio clinch promotion to the Italian top division, and had previously reached an agreement on key contractual terms before informing the club of her condition.
Under FIFA’s maternity regulations, clubs must prove that a termination is not linked to pregnancy, and any pregnancy‑related information is classified as confidential medical data. Lazio’s later claim that Gothberg no longer wished to continue was deemed insufficient.
A precedent that reshapes player‑club relations
Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud, legal director for FifPro, emphasized that the judgment confirms a club cannot walk away from an employment relationship once it learns a player is pregnant, reinforcing the principle of contractual continuity.
The case echoes a 2023 ruling involving Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, who won a claim against Lyon for unpaid salary during her pregnancy, a decision that led to a €82,000 payout and a warning of a transfer ban if the payment was not made within 45 days.
In response, FIFA expanded its protective framework in 2024, introducing a minimum of 14 weeks of paid maternity leave for coaches as well as players, guaranteeing 100 % of weekly wages during that period, and extending similar benefits to adoption and family‑leave scenarios.
The updated rules also allow clubs to retain full pay beyond the statutory period, provide flexible leave for menstrual health reasons, and permit signings outside the regular transfer window when a squad member is on maternity or related leave.
Recent guidance released by FifPro, highlighted by BBC Sport, outlines best practices for clubs supporting players returning from childbirth, covering nutrition, fitness, and childcare. Meanwhile, the Professional Footballers’ Association has partnered with a fertility clinic to offer confidential family‑planning advice and discounted treatments to its members.