What you should know
Regulations protect the rights of current and prospective mothers
These minimum conditions, agreed upon by FIFA, FIFPRO and other governing bodies, offer women more job security and came into effect on 1 January 2021.
FIFPRO defends and promotes players' rights as workers
This includes developing a set of minimum standards for maternity and paternal entitlements, which now need to be recognised and enforced globally.
Players should not feel pressured to settle
Unfortunately, employment instability in the industry can put players into unfair situations where they feel they must choose between their careers and their families.
A groundbreaking maternity case
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.
Pathway to Maternity Regulations for Professional Footballers
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.
Latest player stories
Why maternity regulations are so important to women's players
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.
