World football governing body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has effected some changes to women’s footballers going on maternity leave.
In a letter signed by FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura to member associations of FIFA on October 8, 2021, the world football governing body introduced specific labour conditions regarding pregnancy and maternity for professional women players which came into force on January 1, 2021 while FIFA stated that they must be implemented domestically at all of its 211 national member associations within six months, unless more favourable conditions are available pursuant to national law or CBA.
Gómez Bruinewoud initiated the discussions with FIFA and other stakeholders, and fought hard to optimise these protective regulations, to enable women to combine being a parent with their football career.
Article 6 Paragraph 1 provides the possibility for an association to exceptionally register a women player outside a registration period to either temporarily replace a player who has taken maternity leave, or reintegrate a player upon the completion of her maternity leave.
To read more on FIFA maternity regulations: https://fifpro.org/en/rights/new-maternity-regulations-provide-female-players-with-more-opportunities
However, the issue of giving birth by women’s footballers especially in Africa is a big issue as some clubs and coaches still find it hard to reinstall women’s footballers into the team after maternity leave.
FIFA according to the letter noted that some member associations are still in the process of implementing these global conditions at the national level and ask that each member association ensures that it complies with its regulatory obligations in this regard to incorporates the relevant provisions that are binding at national level within its national transfer regulations without modification.
It is hoped that FIFA will be able to monitor the implementation of these developments as the game is played by women and not girls.
What should player unions do if these regulations haven’t been implemented yet in their country?
Read on what to do and how to report if you are denied as a player to exercise your maternity rights https://fifpro.org/en/rights/why-maternity-regulations-are-so-important-to-fifpro
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