The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has delivered a landmark judgment in favour of Swedish footballer Maja Göthberg, setting a major legal precedent that strengthens the rights of pregnant footballers around the world.
The ruling found that Italian club Lazio Women unlawfully ended its employment relationship with Göthberg after learning she was pregnant, making it the first time CAS has ruled that a football club discriminated against a player based on pregnancy. The court ordered the club to pay compensation for lost salary as well as damages for violating her personal rights.
The case arose after Göthberg helped Lazio Women secure promotion to Italy’s top-flight league during the 2023/24 season. While negotiations for a new contract were ongoing in 2024, she informed the club that she was pregnant. According to the ruling, Lazio subsequently withdrew from the agreement and disclosed details of her pregnancy without her consent.
Although no formal contract had been signed, CAS concluded that the extensive negotiations and communications between both parties established an employment relationship. The court also ruled that pregnancy-related information constitutes sensitive medical data and must be treated with strict confidentiality.
The decision reinforces FIFA’s strengthened maternity regulations introduced in 2024, confirming that clubs cannot avoid their legal obligations by terminating or abandoning employment arrangements once they become aware that a player is pregnant.
FIFPRO, the global football players’ union, welcomed the judgment, describing it as a landmark victory for women’s football and labour rights. The organisation said the ruling proves that FIFA’s maternity protections are enforceable and provide meaningful safeguards for players.
Reacting to the outcome, Göthberg said the case was about more than football, stressing that every player deserves to be treated fairly and with dignity during pregnancy. She added that the decision sends a powerful message that pregnancy should never be used as a reason to deny a footballer employment opportunities.
The judgment is expected to influence future cases involving maternity rights in professional football and strengthen protections for women athletes across the sport.
