FIFA To Introduce 14-Week Maternity Leave For Pregnant Players

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has plans to introduce measures to help pregnant footballers which could include a compulsory 14 weeks mandatory leave.

The world football body announced this on Thursday through FIFA’s chief women’s football officer, Sarai Bareman, while speaking to journalist.

“We want to see more women play football but in the same time have a family, “she said.

According to Emilio Garcia, FIFA’s chief legal and compliance officer,”the idea is to protect female players before, during, and after childbirth.”

The 14-week leave will ensure that players are paid up to two-third of their salary, adding “no female player should ever suffer a disadvantage as a result of becoming pregnant”.

When the plan is enforced, any player that gets laid off by any club because of pregnancy will attract sanction for the defaulting club.

FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, in a statement said that the time had come when women football “adopt a regulatory framework that is appropriate and suitable to the needs of the women’s game.”