The changing support for mothers in women’s football was discussed on a Space hosted by FIFPRO involving former internationals Helen Ward and Sif Atladottir, as well as FIFPRO Senior Legal Counsel Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud.

The World Players Association (WPA) has released Best Practice Guidance for Maternity and Parental Policies in Sport, a landmark initiative designed to ensure athlete-parents are empowered to thrive both on and off the field.

FIFPRO Senior Legal Counsel Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud initiated the discussions with FIFA and other stakeholders, and fought hard to optimise these protective regulations, to enable women to combine being a parent with their football career.

Icelandic midfielder Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir became the first player to win a claim against a club through the FIFA Maternity Regulations. FIFPRO provided legal support to Bjork Gunnarsdottir, from explaining her rights to representing her before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber.

Women's players will be entitled to receive a paid maternity leave according to new FIFA regulations, which will come into effect in January 2021. FIFPRO played an instrumental role in the creation of these new rules.

FIFPRO welcomes the introduction of new regulations that protect the rights of female professional footballers who want to have children during their playing careers.

Players took to social media to show their support for Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir's landmark maternity ruling, while also conveying that the rights of players need to be respected.

Senior Legal Counsel Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud was an integral force in defining what is now known as the FIFA Maternity Regulations, and ensuring their inclusion in FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

Wales’ all-time scorer talked to FIFPRO in 2021 about her own experiences of balancing motherhood and a playing career, and how maternity is a different ball game in the world of football.

Sweden international Jessica Wik addresses the perceived incompatibility between professional football and motherhood, and hopes that FIFA’s maternity regulations, drafted collaboratively with FIFPRO’s involvement will be fully implemented soon in her country.

Football and motherhood is the focus of the latest Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart episode – the series dedicated to the important but little-discussed issues of the beautiful game. Joining Hart in the latest instalment is former Iceland international Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir, a player involved in the most groundbreaking maternity case in football.

Former Germany goalkeeper Almuth Schult recently returned to football eight months after the birth of her third child. Schult made history by becoming the first player in Germany to use the FIFA Maternity Regulations to return from maternity leave and join a new club outside of transfer periods.