Super Falcons players are now guaranteed to have maternity leave and retain their jobs in the process after the world football governing body, FIFA, made a couple of reforms to female football.
This new rule was announced by FIFA president, Gianni Infantino at the association’s executive council meeting on Friday.
The rule had been proposed last month but was only approved after the council meeting on Friday. The new law states that any player that gets pregnant will be given a 14-week paid maternity leave while she will also get to keep her job.
According to FIFA, clubs will now pay two-thirds of contracted salary to a player that gets pregnant, and they are also obliged not only to reintegrate the player when she returns but also provide medical support.
Clubs also will be unable to terminate a player’s contract during her maternity leave, and any club found guilty of breaking this rule will pay compensation to the player while they could also be sanctioned.
Speaking after the introduction of the rule, Infantino said: “If we are serious about boosting the women’s game, we have to look at all these aspects.”
“Female players need to have stability in their careers, and if they take maternity leave, they should not have to worry about when they are ready to play again.”
The FIFA Council today approved groundbreaking reforms to better protect female players and coaches, particularly in relation to maternity. https://t.co/ga97LjuY87
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) December 4, 2020
This new rule will be enforced worldwide, which means Super Falcons stars playing domestic football are not left out.
However, clubs are now allowed to sign a cover during the 14 weeks a player is out. US Women football stars, Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan, are two of the highest-profile players to have recently delivered a child while playing.
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