FIFA Announces New Employment Rules

FIFA took major steps towards protecting their female players, announcing new employment rules that discuss covered maternity leave for their female players starting Jan. 1. 

As the Women's World Cup in 2019 brought a heavy amount of attention toward FIFA and their treatment and respect of their female players, FIFA chief legal officer Emilio Garcia wanted to get ahead of any potential problems that might be brought to the table by the player's union in the near future. Additionally, with one of the biggest names in soccer Alex Morgan recently giving birth to her first daughter and returning to the soccer pitch just this month, this conversation was inevitable. Previously, there was no present protection under FIFA for women during their pregnancy.

According to the Associated Press from a conference call with Garcia, the governing body is preparing to mandate clubs to allow at least 14 weeks of maternity leave paid at a minimum two-thirds of a player's full salary. The club "will be under an obligation to reintegrate her into football activity and provide adequate ongoing medical support," according to FIFA. 

Clubs that have previously ended a player's contract for becoming pregnant may face fines and having to pay compensation to such player. They might also face being banned from the transfer market for one year. 

FIFA also plans to help clubs by letting them register a player outside of a transfer window as a temporary replacement during a maternity leave.

FIFA said in the statement, "[The drafted rules aim to] protect contractural stability, achieve greater transparency and make sure that coaches also get paid on time."

After FIFA has been under fire for not taking care of its players, especially with maternity leave and unequal pay, it is definitely a step in the right direction to see them making these moves to improve players' working conditions. 

FIFA has a long way to go to regain a lot of trust in the soccer community, and it looks as if they are headed in the right direction. 

Lauren Moore