In brief
The Court of Arbitration for Sport for the first time formally found a club to have violated FIFA’s maternity regulations, ordering Lazio Women to pay compensation.
The club must pay Maja Gothberg €64,000 as salary indemnity, plus 5% annual interest, for unlawfully terminating the relationship.
The arbitration panel relied partly on WhatsApp messages to prove that Lazio was aware of the pregnancy when it withdrew from the renewal talks.
The TAS also ruled that Lazio Women violated confidentiality by revealing the pregnancy to Gothberg’s teammates.
The ruling
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) in Lausanne ordered Lazio Women to pay €64,000 in compensation, plus 5% annual interest, to Maja Gothberg for wrongfully ending the working relationship because of her pregnancy. The decision, announced on 24 June 2026, is the first in which the TAS has found a football club to have violated FIFA's maternity regulations.
“This case is not just about football, but about being treated with fairness and respect at an important moment in my life. Pregnancy should never be considered a problem or a reason to deny a player job opportunities.”
Background
Gothberg, a Swedish defender, played for Lazio Women in the 2023‑24 season, helping the team win promotion to Serie A. In the summer of 2024, the club and the player began negotiating a renewal. Although no formal contract was signed, the TAS concluded that the parties had already agreed on the essential terms. After Gothberg informed the club of her pregnancy, Lazio stopped the negotiations.
Evidence of discrimination
The panel partly based its ruling on WhatsApp messages that proved the club was aware of the pregnancy when it withdrew. The TAS also found that Lazio Women breached medical confidentiality by revealing the pregnancy to Gothberg's teammates before any official announcement.
“This case shows that FIFA's maternity regulations are not just words on paper but offer real protection to female players. The significance of this decision goes beyond Maja Gothberg's case and confirms that clubs cannot simply terminate a working relationship, even one not yet formalised, once they learn of a player's pregnancy.”
Club response
Lazio Women acknowledged the ruling but stressed that the TAS recognised the "exceptional nature" of the case and did not impose additional FIFA sanctions because of the absence of bad faith. The club noted that Gothberg had communicated her pregnancy before the season started and before arriving at the club, and claimed she could have checked the club's willingness to continue before filing her claim.
Broader context
The case adds to a series of disputes involving pregnant athletes, from volleyball player Asja Cogliandro to American sprinter Allyson Felix. The TAS decision is being seen as a watershed moment for the protection of pregnant footballers, establishing that even an unsigned renewal can give rise to obligations if pregnancy is the reason for withdrawal.