FIFA strengthens its protection measures for mothers and creates “adoption leave” in women’s football

Players and coaches will in particular be entitled to more leave to look after their children.

From Saturday June 1, the International Football Federation (FIFA) will extend its measures to reconcile motherhood and football to female coaches, non-biological mothers, particularly in female couples, as well as contacts with family during major tournaments, the body announced on Friday May 31.

Three years after imposing maternity leave on its 211 member federations “at least 14 weeks” for female players, paid “at least two thirds of the contractual salary”the world football body provides the same right for coaches in its transfer regulations which come into force on Saturday.

An “adoption leave” of at least eight weeks must also be granted by the clubs if the child is under two years old, a period reduced to four weeks for a child aged two to four years and to two weeks if the The child is older, the authority specifies in a press release. Players or coaches “other than the biological mother” will also benefit from at least eight weeks to accommodate a birth, the first measure clearly taking into account same-sex parent families.

Furthermore, federations will be encouraged “to allow players to have more contact with their families when they are with their national team”. Finally, “in case of painful periods or complications related to pregnancy”players will be able to be absent from training or matches while retaining “their full remuneration”predicts Fifa.

“A career in football should not be incompatible with being a mother or raising a child”underlines former coach Jill Ellis, who won two World Cups with the United States (2015, 2019) while raising her daughter with her partner.