The Court of Arbitration for Sport just handed down a ruling that could reshape how clubs handle pregnancy disclosures in women’s soccer. Lazio Women have been ordered to pay former Sweden youth international Maja Göthberg more than €70,000 in back salary plus damages for what CAS called an “infringement of her personality rights.” The decision, which was made public Wednesday by global players’ union Fifpro, is being hailed as a legal landmark.
Göthberg was a key piece in Lazio Women’s push for promotion to Italy’s top flight during the 2023-24 season. When contract negotiations for a new deal worth €64,000 gross salary came up, she told the club she was pregnant. According to the CAS ruling, “Immediately afterwards, the relationship broke down.” Lazio then claimed no contract existed and said the player had lost interest in continuing.
Whatsapp messages made the difference
Göthberg initially lost her case at a FIFA tribunal. But on appeal to CAS, she brought evidence that turned the tide: WhatsApp messages from the negotiation period that showed Lazio knew she was pregnant the whole time. FIFA judges had previously ruled that Göthberg “failed to establish that the parties had concluded an employment contract.” CAS saw it differently, deciding that when both sides act like a deal is in place, a club can’t just bail once pregnancy enters the picture.
Fifpro’s Legal Director, Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud, put it bluntly: “The significance of this ruling goes beyond Maja Göthberg and confirms clubs cannot simply walk away from an employment relationship, even if this is not fully formalized, once they learn a player is pregnant.”
A bigger precedent than just one player
Fifpro also stressed that the ruling sets an important precedent around medical confidentiality. Players are protected when essential terms are agreed and both sides behave like a contract exists. That’s a major clarification for a sport where contracts aren’t always fully signed and sealed before players start training or playing.
Göthberg, now 28, won the Under-19 European Championships with Sweden back in 2015. She has not played for the senior national team. She’s married to Finnish ice hockey player Miika Pitkanen, who’s 30. She turns 29 next month.
The ruling doesn’t just get Göthberg paid. It sends a message across the sport: pregnancy is not a loophole for clubs to wriggle out of commitments.
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