A landmark ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has reinforced the rights of female footballers after Italian club Lazio Women were ordered to compensate former midfielder Maja Gothberg for unlawfully ending her contract following news of her pregnancy.
The decision represents one of the most significant maternity-related judgments in women’s football and has been welcomed by global players’ union FifPro as a major step forward in protecting athletes from discrimination.
In addition to financial compensation, CAS directed Lazio to pay moral damages to the Swedish midfielder after determining that details of her pregnancy had been shared with several teammates without her consent.
For Gothberg, the ruling brings an end to a lengthy legal battle that has drawn attention to the challenges female athletes can face when balancing professional careers with motherhood.
Privacy Breach and Contract Dispute
The dispute dates back to the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign, when Gothberg played a key role in Lazio’s successful promotion push to Italy’s top flight. The midfielder featured 29 times during the season and subsequently entered discussions with the club over a new deal.
Although no formal contract was signed, Gothberg argued that the essential terms of an agreement had already been settled. Evidence presented during the proceedings included WhatsApp exchanges that reportedly outlined the key conditions of her continued employment.
Before the paperwork was finalised, Gothberg discovered she was pregnant and informed the club. While she was under no legal obligation to disclose the pregnancy at that stage, she chose to do so.
According to the player, Lazio then failed to honour the agreement that had been reached in principle. The club later maintained that Gothberg no longer wished to remain with the team and suggested the relationship had deteriorated for reasons unrelated to her pregnancy.
CAS ultimately sided with the player, concluding that Lazio had acted unlawfully. The court also found that confidential information regarding Gothberg’s pregnancy had been disclosed without her approval.
A Victory Beyond One Player
Reacting to the outcome, Gothberg said the case had always been about fairness and dignity rather than football alone.
She stressed that the ruling sends a powerful message that “pregnancy should never be viewed as a barrier” to employment opportunities in sport.
The case initially failed to gain traction when FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber rejected Gothberg’s claim. However, the appeal to CAS produced a different outcome and has now established an important reference point for future maternity disputes in professional football.
FifPro legal director Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud described the judgment as proof that FIFA’s maternity regulations carry real legal weight. She said clubs cannot simply withdraw from an employment relationship after learning a player is pregnant, even when a contract has not yet been formally completed.
Gothberg received legal support from FifPro and the Swedish players’ union, Spelarforeningen, throughout the proceedings.
The ruling follows another notable maternity case in women’s football. In 2023, former Iceland captain Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir successfully challenged French club Lyon after not receiving her full salary during pregnancy.
FIFA ordered Lyon to pay more than €82,000 in unpaid wages and warned the club of potential sanctions if the money was not settled.
Growing Safeguards for Female Athletes
The latest decision arrives amid increasing efforts to strengthen maternity and family protections across football.
In 2024, FIFA expanded its maternity framework to cover both players and coaches. The revised regulations guarantee a minimum of 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, with individuals entitled to receive their full salary and benefits during that period before statutory rates apply.
The governing body also introduced enhanced provisions for adoption and non-biological parenthood, while family leave measures were expanded to support a wider range of caregivers.
Additional protections allow clubs to register replacement players outside normal transfer windows when squad members are absent due to maternity, adoption or family leave.
Players are also permitted to request time away from training or matches for menstrual health reasons without losing pay.
Support mechanisms have continued to evolve beyond childbirth. Last year, FifPro issued detailed guidance to clubs on helping players return to competition, covering areas such as physical conditioning, nutrition and childcare.
Meanwhile, the Professional Footballers’ Association recently launched a partnership with a fertility clinic to provide members with specialist advice and financial assistance for selected family-planning treatments.
The Gothberg ruling is expected to further accelerate those efforts, reinforcing the principle that motherhood and professional football careers should not be mutually exclusive.
As women’s football continues to grow, the judgment stands as a significant reminder that employment protections must develop alongside the sport itself.
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