Overview
- The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Wednesday that Lazio unlawfully ended its relationship with Maja Gothberg after she disclosed a pregnancy and must pay damages and back pay.
- CAS found an employment relationship existed even without a signed contract, limiting clubs’ ability to avoid obligations by pointing to missing formalities.
- The award included a specific financial payment to Gothberg and recognition that pregnancy was the decisive reason the club withdrew from the agreement.
- FIFPRO and its legal director hailed the decision as a landmark that enforces FIFA maternity rules and affirms the need to keep players’ medical information confidential.
- The ruling could prompt clubs and leagues to change contract practices, tighten medical‑privacy protocols, and strengthen protections for pregnant players across professional women’s football.