Professional women footballers are to be guaranteed maternity leave under new rules approved by FIFA on Friday, the global football body's president Gianni Infantino said.

Under the new rules, approved by the decision-making FIFA Council on Friday, a player will be given 14 weeks maternity leave and her club will be obliged to reintegrate her afterwards and provide adequate medical support.

"If we are serious about boosting the women's game, we have to look at all these aspects," Infantino told reporters.

"Female players need to have stability in their careers and if they take maternity leave, they should not have to worry about when they are ready to play again."

The rules will be incorporated into FIFA's regulations on the status and transfer of players and will be enforced worldwide.

While many players in Europe are already protected by employment law in their given countries, FIFA said its aim is to create "new global minimum standards" for female players, given the rapid emergence of new clubs and leagues around the world.

Infantino said new rules would also be introduced to give greater stability to coaches, although there were no immediate further details.

"Coaches develop how we play and inspire the players, they too need job security and we have established minimum standards to protect them," he added.

openmine:
I have a question.....If FIFA had seen a man and a woman as EQUAL,would they have given the female players maternity leave?

Helpfromabove1:
FIFA need to also approve paternity leave for men , we say no to gender inequality abi na

openmine:
I have a question.....If FIFA had seen a man and a woman as EQUAL,would they have given the female players maternity leave?

openmine:
I have a question.....If FIFA had seen a man and a woman as EQUAL,would they have given the female players maternity leave?

openmine:
I have a question.....If FIFA had seen a man and a woman as EQUAL,would they have given the female players maternity leave?

cynthia500:
“Work hard for what you want because it won’t come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive.

Onyi22:
To the mod that banned me for complete 4 months, it will never be well with your entire family.. As if na their papa get this forum

Nuel4:
don't deceive yourself you can't do anything you put your mind to.

cynthia500:


“At any given moment you have the power to say: this is not how the story is going to end.