The rights of women football players have been raised in 2021. More specifically, players who become pregnant during their careers have received protection that applies globally.
Fifa's new regulations guarantee, among other things, paid parental leave of at least 14 weeks (of which at least eight weeks after the birth), a ban on firing a pregnant player and the right to recruit replacements outside the transfer windows.
FIFA's regulations are intended to apply as a global minimum and each country and league has the right to provide even better protection.
Caroline Jönsson, board member of Fifpro, has been a driving force in the issue and was one of those behind the final proposal that Fifa voted through in December.
She says that they have been fighting for the policy for five years.
"Sends super clear signal"
- The most important thing with this policy is to raise an issue where you have gone from a total taboo and ban in a contract to "yes you can get pregnant while you play football".
In any case, we have some form of common minimum basic condition.
It sends a super clear signal and was an incredible victory.
At the same time, we in Sweden have a system that is at a better level.
When Jönsson was involved in presenting the proposal many years ago, it was intended as a parenting policy that also included the partner.
There are also other parts she wished were better in the regulations.
There is a lot that can be improved
- I would have liked the compensation to be much higher.
And eight weeks of parental leave after a birth, I think is crazy too short a time.
I would have liked a longer recovery time.
It is also not something that you, for example, get childcare when you go to the championship, which might be needed to be able to participate.
There are some that are not really clear.
In Sweden, a pregnancy and parenting policy has been worked on for a long time, but it is not yet in place.
According to Jönsson, it will be significantly better than Fifas.
See more details about the Fifa policy in the fact box below.
CLIP: The detail that stops Damallsvensk's pregnancy policy
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The detail that stops damallsvensk pregnant pregnancy policy