Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

Maja Göthberg pregnancy case has ended with the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that Lazio Women unlawfully ended their employment relationship with the Swedish footballer because she was pregnant.

The decision matters because it is the first case in which the Court of Arbitration for Sport found that a club unlawfully ended a player’s employment relationship due to pregnancy, even though Göthberg had not signed her proposed new contract. Lazio Women have been ordered to pay compensation after the ruling.

For more women’s football coverage, read 2027 Women’s World Cup In Brazil Set To Shape Next Era Of Women’s Football, while official arbitration information is available through the Court of Arbitration for Sport website.

Contract Talks Changed After Pregnancy News

Göthberg helped Lazio Women win promotion to Italy’s top tier during the 2023-24 season before entering contract talks with the club.

No contract had been signed, but both sides had agreed on key terms. Before signing, Göthberg discovered she was pregnant and told Lazio Women, despite having no obligation to do so at that stage.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport was told Lazio then withdrew from the agreement. The court was also told that Göthberg’s teammates were informed of her pregnancy without her consent.

“This was never only about football: it was about being treated fairly and with respect at an important moment in my life. The ruling sends a message that pregnancy should never be treated as a problem or a reason to deny a player labour opportunities.”

Fifpro Welcomes Player Protection Ruling

Göthberg initially lost her case at FIFA’s dispute resolution chamber before taking it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Alexandra Gómez Bruinewoud, legal director at Fifpro, said: “This case shows that Fifa’s maternity regulations are not just words on paper and that they provide real protections for players.

“Clubs cannot simply walk away from an employment relationship, even if this is not fully formalised, once they learn a player is pregnant.”

WhatsApp messages were part of the evidence and supported Göthberg’s account that Lazio Women knew about her pregnancy.

The court also found Lazio Women had breached rules on private medical information by revealing the midfielder’s pregnancy to teammates.

“I hope the case helps create a safer environment for players who want to have both a career and a family.”