Sport's highest court has delivered a historic legal victory for female soccer players. Italy's Lazio Women have been ordered to pay compensation to Maya Gortberg after contract negotiations were terminated when she announced her pregnancy. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) ordered Lazio to pay Gortberg, a former Swedish youth international, €64,000 (about £60,000) in salary compensation, as well as €70,000 in damages for "violation of moral rights". They were also required to pay 5% interest accrued over the past two years. The verdict was announced on Wednesday by FIFPRO, the international athletes' organization. Gortberg is a player who played a key role in Lazio Women's promotion to the First Division in the 2023-2024 season. She informed the club of her pregnancy while negotiating a new contract, which was worth a total of €64,000 (approximately £55,000). According to the TAS ruling, "the relationship completely broke down soon after", with FIFPRO stating that Lazio Women subsequently claimed that there was no contract and that the player no longer wanted to remain at the club. Gortberg initially lost in FIFA's ruling, but won after appealing to TAS. Evidence presented during the appeal included WhatsApp messages exchanged during contract negotiations, making it clear that Lazio were aware of the pregnancy. FIFA referees had previously ruled that Gortberg was "unable to prove that the parties had entered into an employment contract". "The importance of this judgment goes beyond Maya Gortberg, as it confirms that a club cannot unilaterally terminate an employment relationship if it learns that a player is pregnant, even if the contract has not yet been formally concluded," said Alexandra Gómez Bruynevoud, head of legal affairs at FIFPRO. It also said the TAS decision "makes clear that medical information related to pregnancy must be kept confidential." Gortberg, 28, was part of Sweden's squad when they won the European Under-19 Championship and has been a member of Sweden's national team for the past 11 years, but has yet to make an appearance for the A's. Gortberg, who turns 29 next month, is married to 30-year-old Finnish ice hockey player Mika Pitkanen.
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