Milestone Pregnancy Protection
Court of Arbitration for Sport rules Lazio Women unlawfully terminated player's pregnancy contract.
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Key Points
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The CAS awarded Gothberg more than €69,000 in salary compensation plus moral damages, marking a significant financial remedy for a pregnancy-related termination case.
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WhatsApp messages provided crucial evidence that key terms for a renewed contract were agreed before formal signing, and that Parma expressed interest while Gothberg’s agent told Lazio to pursue another player.
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Gothberg received support from FifPro and Sweden’s players’ union Spelarforeningen, illustrating cross-border advocacy for players’ rights in pregnancy cases.
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The ruling is cited as a milestone in FIFA maternity protections, aligning with earlier high-profile cases such as Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir’s 2023 claim against Lyon that reinforced protections for pregnant players.
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The case progressed to CAS after an initial defeat at FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber, underscoring a pathway from FIFA DRC to CAS in maternity-related disputes.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ordered Lazio Women to pay Swedish defender Maja Göthberg more than €69,000 after ruling the Italian club unlawfully ended her employment because she disclosed her pregnancy. Football Italia reported the decision is the first time CAS has recognized a club's withdrawal from an agreement due to pregnancy as a breach of contract — even without a formally signed deal.
Göthberg said the case "was never only about football: it was about being treated fairly and with respect at an important moment in my life." FIFPRO's legal director called the ruling proof that FIFA's maternity regulations are "not just words on paper."
WhatsApp Messages Sealed a Binding Contract
Lazio Women began renewal talks with Göthberg in late June 2024 after she played 29 of 30 matches in their promotion-winning season. Key terms — including a gross salary of €64,000 — were agreed via WhatsApp between her agent and club officials, according to Yahoo Sports. On July 11, Lazio's team manager added Göthberg to the "Lazio Women 2024-25" squad group chat, signaling she was part of the new season.
CAS applied Swiss law, which governs FIFA regulations. Under Swiss law, a contract exists once both sides agree on essential terms like salary, role, and duration. The panel found those terms were met. The absence of a signed paper document did not erase that agreement.
Pregnancy Disclosure Triggered Immediate Removal From Squad
On July 18, 2024, Göthberg's agent told Lazio's sporting director about her pregnancy. Just four days later — on July 22 — the club removed her from the squad WhatsApp group. Lazio then refused to finalize the contract. Gamereactor reported that Lazio also disclosed Göthberg's pregnancy to her teammates without her consent, which the CAS panel treated as a separate violation of her privacy rights.
Lazio argued in its defense that Göthberg had been negotiating with Parma Calcio Women at the same time, which they claimed proved she did not consider herself bound to the club. The panel rejected that argument. The timing of her removal — four days after the pregnancy disclosure — was too direct to ignore.
CAS Overturns FIFA's Earlier Ruling, Awards Full Damages
Göthberg first filed her claim with FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber. In March 2025, the DRC dismissed it, ruling no valid contract had been finalized. She appealed to CAS, which reversed that decision on June 24, 2026. The total award of €69,333 includes her full 2024-25 salary plus moral damages for the breach of her personality rights, with 5% annual interest accrued since the breach, according to Yahoo Sports.
The case shows players have a real appellate path from the FIFA DRC to CAS in maternity-related disputes — even when they lose the first round.
A Milestone That Goes Beyond Women's Football
FIFPRO and Sweden's players' union Spelarforeningen both backed Göthberg throughout the case. The ruling builds on a 2023 precedent involving Lyon and Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, which was the first major test of FIFA's 2021 maternity protections. That case covered a player with a signed contract. This one goes further — protecting players still in the negotiation phase, according to Football Italia.
The decision also sets a clear standard on medical privacy. A player's pregnancy is confidential health data. Clubs cannot share it with squad members or use it to walk away from an agreement. FIFPRO said the ruling should put every club in European women's football on notice.
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