Italian football club Lazio Women have been ordered to pay compensation and 'moral damages' to former midfielder Maja Gothberg, following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The decision found that the club unlawfully ended the Swedish player's employment due to her pregnancy, marking a significant moment for maternity rights within professional women's football.
The dispute arose after Gothberg, who had played a crucial role in Lazio's promotion to Italy's top division in the 2023-24 season, informed the club of her pregnancy. She claimed that despite an agreement in principle for a new contract, which was evidenced by WhatsApp messages, Lazio failed to formalise the deal once they learned of her pregnancy. The club subsequently alleged that Gothberg no longer wished to continue playing, a claim disputed by the player.
Crucially, CAS also determined that Lazio had disclosed confidential information regarding Gothberg's pregnancy to several teammates without her consent, further compounding the club's breach of her rights. This aspect of the ruling underscores the importance of medical privacy for athletes.
This outcome comes after Gothberg's case was initially rejected by FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC), highlighting the persistence required to achieve justice in such circumstances. The global players' union FIFPRO, which supported Gothberg alongside the Swedish players' union Spelarforeningen, has lauded the CAS decision as 'groundbreaking'. Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud, FIFPRO's legal director, emphasised that the ruling confirms clubs cannot simply terminate an employment relationship, even an unformalised one, upon learning of a player's pregnancy.
Lazio has acknowledged the findings, stating that the circumstances were 'exceptional' and of a 'highly specific nature'. The club affirmed its commitment to safeguarding athletes' rights and promoting inclusion, respect, equality, and non-discrimination, adding that it would review and strengthen internal procedures to align with evolving national and international regulations governing professional sport and employment relations.
This case follows a similar 'landmark' decision in 2023, where former Iceland captain Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir successfully claimed against Lyon for unpaid salary during her pregnancy. FIFA's recent amendments in 2024 have further strengthened protections for female footballers and coaches, including a minimum of 14 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, reflecting a growing global recognition of the need to support athletes through pregnancy and motherhood.