A female footballer has been awarded more than £72,000 in back-dated maternity leave pay in a landmark victory she hailed as a “wake-up call” for football clubs.
Iceland international Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir, 32, took former employer Lyon to a FIFA tribunal after she was not paid her full salary while she was off work following the birth of her son, Ragnar.
The French club has now been ordered to pay Gunnarsdottir a total of €82,094.82 – around £72,139 – plus 5% annual interest from 10 September last year until the outstanding amount has been cleared.
It is the first ruling of its kind since FIFA’s maternity regulations came into force in January 2021.
The midfielder, who is currently in Italy playing for Juventus, tweeted: “This is not “just business”.
“This is about my human rights as a worker, as a woman, and as a human being.”
“This story is bigger than me!” she added.
Qatar World Cup: FIFA admits restaurateur Salt Bae should not have been on the pitch after final
OneLove armband row: Did football just score an own goal?
England’s World Cup opens with rows over OneLove armband – as Iranian players make their own silent protest
“It’s a wake-up call for all clubs and it’s a message to all players that if they get pregnant or want to get pregnant during their career, they have their rights and guarantees!”
Gunnarsdottir asked to return home to Iceland for the final stages of her pregnancy.
But she decided to take action after being denied her full pay, seeking help from French players’ union, the Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels.
She later enlisted global representative body, FIFPRO, which supports professional football players across the globe.
FIFPRO said the ruling against Lyon, made public on Tuesday, sends a clear message that “the strict application of maternity rights is enforceable”.
The organisation added in a statement shared on its social media channels: “FIFPRO congratulates Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir on her successful claim against Lyon over the club’s failure to pay her full salary during pregnancy.
“We are pleased to have assisted her in achieving the first ruling of its kind since FIFA’s maternity regulations came into force in January 2021.
“It is extremely important for women footballers and the women’s game that these mandatory maternity regulations are both implemented and enforced at national level.”
Alex Culvin, who works for FIFPRO policy and strategic relations, said the landmark ruling “highlights the ongoing battles women players have to endure to safeguard their basic rights as workers”.
“Progress has been made, but there is still so much to do,” she added.
Gunarsdottir also won praise from fellow footballers including former Lioness and English football coach, Anita Asante.
She tweeted: “Well done Sara for being bold and standing up for yourself whilst holding your club to account!
“You have not only highlighted a significant problem in football but hopefully, have contributed to making the path easier for the next professional player who decides to start a family.”
Scottish and Arsenal women’s star, Jen Beattie, credited her Icelandic counterpart for “speaking out on such an important topic for women in work”.
And Canadian footballer and double Olympic gold medallist, Desiree Scott, hailed Gunarsdottir for sharing her story to “inspire and affect change”, adding there was “still work to be done”.
Lyon have yet to comment on the ruling.
FIFA rules, which came into force in January 2021, state: “A female player is entitled to maternity leave, defined as a minimum period of 14 weeks’ paid absence – with at least eight weeks after birth – during the term of the contract, paid at the equivalent of two-thirds of her contracted salary.”
Sky News exclusively reported how former Attorney General Suella Braverman called for a culture change around maternity rights, saying too many employers were “breaking the law”.
The now home secretary became the first cabinet minister to go on maternity leave in March 2021.
