When female footballers become pregnant, they are entitled to take mandatory paid leave from their professional duties to focus on their health, pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery before a potential return to the sport.
Professional Entitlements During Pregnancy
Pregnancy necessitates a temporary break from the demanding physical requirements of professional football. Recognising this, governing bodies and clubs have established protections to ensure players are supported during this time. These protections primarily revolve around guaranteed parental leave and salary support, ensuring the player's contract and livelihood are protected.
Mandatory Parental Leave
Regulations stipulate that female footballers are entitled to a significant period of leave. This is designed to provide adequate time off before and after giving birth.
Key entitlements include:
- Minimum Duration: Players are entitled to a minimum of 14 weeks of parental leave.
- Post-Birth Requirement: At least eight weeks of this leave must be taken after the player gives birth. This ensures a crucial recovery period following childbirth.
This guaranteed leave allows players to step away from playing and training commitments, providing essential time for rest and care.
Salary Protections
During this mandatory leave period, the player's income is also protected.
- Minimum Pay: Leave must be paid at a minimum of two-thirds of the player's salary.
- Potential for More: If national law or a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) offers more beneficial conditions, those conditions apply instead, potentially resulting in full pay or a higher percentage.
This financial security is vital, ensuring players do not suffer undue hardship while taking necessary time off for pregnancy and childbirth.
These entitlements provide a framework for how female footballers can navigate pregnancy while maintaining their status as professional athletes, offering a pathway to return to the sport when they are ready and medically cleared.
Here's a summary of the key entitlements:
| Entitlement | Details |
|---|---|
| Parental Leave | Minimum of 14 weeks |
| Post-Birth Leave | At least 8 weeks of the total leave must be taken after giving birth |
| Salary During Leave | Minimum of two-thirds (approx. 67%) of the player's salary, or more if national law/CBA is better |
By ensuring these protections are in place, the professional football environment aims to support female players through pregnancy, facilitating their ability to balance their careers with family life and return to the pitch when the time is right.
