Failure to renew the pregnant player, Lazio Women condemned

Lazio Women was ordered to compensate the former midfielder Maja Gothberg for not renewing her contract due to pregnancy. This is what was established by Court of Arbitration for Sport who ruled in favor of the Swedish player, despite the fact that the latter had not yet signed the contract that had been proposed to her by the Biancoceleste club.

For Gothberg “this case was never just about football: it was about being treated with fairness and respect at an important moment in my life. The sentence sends a clear message: pregnancy should never be considered a problem or a reason to deny a player job opportunities.” Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud, legal director of the company, was also satisfied Fifprothe footballers’ union: “This case shows that the Fifa maternity regulations it’s not just words on paper, but it offers real protection to female players. The significance of this ruling goes beyond the case of Maja Gothberg and confirms that clubs cannot simply terminate a working relationshipeven if not formalized definitively, once a player’s pregnancy is learned.”

The position of Lazio Women

La S.S. Lazio Women “takes note of the decision taken by the CAS in the proceedings brought by the footballer Gothberg” and “while fully respecting the arbitration ruling, considers it appropriate to highlight some aspects of the decision which confirm the particularity and complexity of the matter”.

“The Arbitration Board – we read in a note – recognized the exceptional nature of the case, characterized by a series of objective circumstances that distinguish it from ordinary contractual disputes. Among these, the fact that the footballer communicated her opinion pregnancy before the start of the sports season, before arriving at the Club and before formally signing the contract. Precisely in consideration of the peculiarities of the matter, the TAS did not apply the further sanctions provided for by the FIFA Regulations for cases of termination of the relationship linked to maternity, recognizing the absence of bad faith by the SS Lazio Women 2015 arl and noting how the club operated on the basis of a legal assessment later deemed incorrect by the Arbitration Board”.

Relationship management

“The decision – continues the company note – also highlights how the relationship between the parties was managed exclusively through the intermediation of the player’s agent. It is significant to note that SS Lazio Women never received a direct communication from the player, nor a request for clarification regarding the continuation of the relationship, nor the return of the contract signed after the transmission of the documentation prepared by the club. The referees themselves underlined that there had never been direct contact between the Club and the player and that the latter could have personally verified the club’s willingness to continue the relationship before starting the dispute. In this context, the reconstruction of the facts contained in the award confirms how the critical issues that led to the dispute arose within a particularly complex negotiation management characterized by discussions entrusted exclusively to third parties. A circumstance that inevitably contributed to generating misunderstandings and divergent assessments between the parties.”

Future commitment of the club

In any case, SS Lazio Women 2015 “reaffirms its commitment to the protection of athletes and the principles of inclusion, respect and equal opportunities that characterize modern women’s football. The Company will continue to guarantee the maximum level of attention towards its members and to constantly adapt its internal procedures to national and international legislative and regulatory developments”.