New guidelines released for pregnant pro footballers and their return to competition

FIFPRO, the organization representing professional footballers worldwide, has launched a 48-page guide for footballers to better understand and manage pregnancy during their careers. The guide is meant for the players, their families, team staff, and other football stakeholders, a statement from FIFPRO read.

The FIFA Maternity Regulations have been in place since 2021. They were developed after pressure from FIFPRO and are meant to protect the rights of players who get pregnant during their careers.

While players worldwide are entitled to maternity protections, many said that guidance was also needed for both the players and the clubs and national teams working with them on how to best manage pregnancy before taking maternity leave (prepartum), what to expect after childbirth (postpartum), and how to best prepare for their return to football.

FIFPRO said that after hearing from players about their prepartum and postpartum experiences, they discovered a lack of readily available advice in professional football.

Professional footballers, including German goalkeeper Almuth Schult, American Crystal Dunn, Icelandic Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, and medical experts helped compile the document.

"Starting a family is a significant milestone in a player's life and one that should be celebrated and supported, but many players have felt that this has not been the case for them," said Dr. Alex Culvin, FIFPRO Director of Policy and Strategic Relations for Women's Football. "Many are returning to elite football stronger, despite a significant lack of standardized guidance, regulation, and support, and amid pressure on them to manage their own return to play."