In a significant legal victory for women in soccer, the highest court in sports has ruled in favor of Maja Göthberg by awarding her salary compensation from Lazio Women after the club terminated contract negotiations upon learning of her pregnancy. The Court of Arbitration for Sport mandated Lazio to pay Göthberg over 70,000 euros ($79,000 US) in salary compensation and acknowledged an infringement of her personal rights, with an additional five percent interest for the past two years. This decision, disclosed by the global players’ union FIFPRO on Wednesday, came after Göthberg’s unsuccessful initial claim at a FIFA tribunal, leading her to appeal to CAS.
According to FIFPRO’s Legal Director Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud, the ruling holds broader implications beyond Göthberg, emphasizing that clubs cannot simply abandon an employment relationship upon discovering a player’s pregnancy, even if the agreement is not fully formalized. Göthberg, a former Sweden youth international, contributed to Lazio Women’s promotion to the top tier during the 2023-24 season.
The breakdown of talks occurred when Göthberg informed the club of her pregnancy while discussing a new contract with a gross salary of 64,000 euros ($72,500 US) that summer. Lazio Women later claimed that no formal contract was in place and that the player no longer intended to proceed. Crucial evidence presented during the appeal included WhatsApp messages exchanged during negotiations, revealing Lazio’s awareness of Göthberg’s pregnancy.
While FIFA judges previously ruled that Göthberg had not proven the existence of an employment contract, CAS clarified that when essential terms are agreed upon and both parties behave as though a contract is in place, the player is protected. This ruling also sets a precedent regarding the confidentiality of pregnancy-related medical information.