The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that Italian club Lazio Rome must pay compensation to its former player Maja Gothberg. The verdict, considered groundbreaking, was issued after Gothberg’s employment was unlawfully terminated due to her pregnancy. According to players’ union FIFPRO, this ruling could have far-reaching consequences for maternity protection in professional football.
Gothberg, who played for Lazio during the 2023/24 season, had announced her pregnancy after a verbal agreement on a new contract. The club then withdrew its contract offers, which Gothberg viewed as discrimination and took legal action.
The CAS ruled that an employment relationship existed even without a signed contract and that pregnancy was the decisive reason for the unlawful termination. The ruling also has implications for the confidentiality of medical information related to pregnancies. It confirms that clubs cannot simply end an employment relationship once they learn of a pregnancy. This verdict could thus serve as a precedent for future cases in professional football.
Source: www.zeit.de
