What maternity rights do women footballers have?

Protection from dismissal

Article 18quater of FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players says a contract's validity cannot depend on a pregnancy test, pregnancy, or maternity, adoption or family leave. A club that ends a contract for those reasons is deemed to have done so without just cause, and a dismissal during pregnancy or leave is presumed to be for that reason unless the club proves otherwise.

The player gets compensation and, in all cases, a penalty of six monthly salaries. The club is banned from registering new female players for two windows, and can be fined.

During pregnancy

• She can keep playing and training, and the club must agree a safe plan for it, on full pay until her maternity leave.
• If she chooses not to play, the club must offer other work, on full pay.
• If she cannot work for medical reasons, she is entitled to medical leave.

Leave and return

• Maternity leave is at least 14 weeks paid, with at least eight after the birth.
• She decides when her leave starts. Pressuring her is a disciplinary offence.
• She has the right to return. The club must reintegrate her, agree a postpartum plan and give medical support, on full pay.
• She must be able to breastfeed or express milk, with reduced hours and no cut in pay.