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Jun 24, 2026
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Lazio Women Ordered to Pay Compensation in Landmark Pregnancy Discrimination Case

AI Summary
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) has ruled that Lazio Women unlawfully ended Swedish footballer Maja Göthberg's contract due to her pregnancy, ordering the Italian club to pay compensation.

The Landmark Pregnancy Discrimination Ruling

Lazio Women unlawfully ended the Swedish footballer Maja Göthberg’s time at the club because of her pregnancy, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) has ruled, ordering the Italian club to pay compensation.

Details of the Case

The landmark case revolved around Fifa’s maternity regulations, which were enhanced in 2024. This was the first case in which Cas found a club unlawfully ended an employment relationship because of a player’s pregnancy and, significantly, the court found in the players’ favour even though she had not signed her proposed new contract at the time.

  • Göthberg had helped Lazio win promotion to Italy’s top tier in the 2023-24 campaign, before entering contract negotiations.
  • No deal was signed but both parties had agreed on the key terms of the 28-year-old’s contract.
  • Before signing, Göthberg discovered she was pregnant and chose to tell the club, despite not being obliged to do so.
  • Cas heard that Lazio then withdrew from the contract agreement.
  • Cas also heard that Göthberg’s teammates had been informed of her pregnancy without her consent.

The Impact of the Ruling

Göthberg, who initially lost her case at Fifa’s Dispute Resolution Chamber, leading to her taking her case to Cas, said in a statement: “This was never only about football: it was about being treated fairly and with respect at an important moment in my life. The ruling sends a message that pregnancy should never be treated as a problem or a reason to deny a player labour opportunities.”

The Future of Maternity Regulations in Football

Alexandra Gómez Bruinewoud, the legal director at the players’ union, Fifpro, who supported Göthberg’s battle, said: “This case shows that Fifa’s maternity regulations are not just words on paper and that they provide real protections for players.

“Clubs cannot simply walk away from an employment relationship, even if this is not fully formalised, once they learn a player is pregnant.”

The Road Ahead for Women's Football

Göthberg added: “I hope the case helps create a safer environment for players who want to have both a career and a family.”