In this article, I intend to explain the incorporation by FIFA of protections for female footballers in the event of pregnancy and maternity, which was achieved with the great impulse of FIFPRO. It has been long delayed, but the important thing is that the protections are now in place, and in a sound and positive way.
But in order to understand what has been done, one has to realise why it has been done, and therefore, after a general overview of the context of women’s football today and its needs, I shall refer to the process that led to the approval of this reform, which is a revolutionary step, even though the need for it was obvious.
I shall analyse the regulation in detail, referring to its most positive aspects and to those that require improvement. Finally, I shall mention matters that have not yet been regulated but are necessary and will probably be included in the next stage of this reform, which has only begun.
Women’s football over the years: reality and perception
Faced with obvious differences in the treatment, development, appreciation, financial support and profits of female and male football, many reasons, justifications and excuses are put forward. Among these, many argue that the difference in treatment is partly due to the fact that women’s football is new and that we must give it time. This is precisely what we have been taught and what was said in the media, and the fact is that we have been able to see women’s football in the media for no more than three decades (and to a very limited extent). This leads us to assume that it originated then, around that time. However, the reality shows something different. As the historian Brenda Elsey explains in her book Futbolera,
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