Lazio Women to pay compensation after landmark Cas pregnancy discrimination ruling

<p>Lazio Women unlawfully ended the Swedish footballer Maja Göthberg’s time at the club because of her pregnancy, the court of arbitration for sport has ruled, ordering the Italian club to pay compensation.</p>

<p>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 player’s favour even though she had not signed her proposed new contract at the time.</p>

<p>Göthberg had helped Lazio to 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. Despite not being obliged to inform Lazio of her pregnancy at that stage, the former Sweden youth international chose to tell the club. Cas was told that Lazio then withdrew from the contract agreement. Cas also was told that Göthberg’s teammates had been informed of her pregnancy without her consent.</p>

<p>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.”</p>