Women's players will be entitled to receive a paid maternity leave according to new FIFA regulations, which will come into effect in January 2021. FIFPRO played an instrumental role in the creation of these new rules.

FIFPRO Senior Legal Counsel Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud initiated the discussions with FIFA and other stakeholders, and fought hard to optimise these protective regulations, to enable women to combine being a parent with their football career.

FIFPRO welcomes the introduction of new regulations that protect the rights of female professional footballers who want to have children during their playing careers.

Players took to social media to show their support for Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir's landmark maternity ruling, while also conveying that the rights of players need to be respected.

Icelandic midfielder Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir became the first player to win a claim against a club through the FIFA Maternity Regulations. FIFPRO provided legal support to Bjork Gunnarsdottir, from explaining her rights to representing her before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber.

Sweden international Jessica Wik addresses the perceived incompatibility between professional football and motherhood, and hopes that FIFA’s maternity regulations, drafted collaboratively with FIFPRO’s involvement will be fully implemented soon in her country.

FIFPRO has taken the first of a series of important steps towards a more progressive vision for the football industry by adopting new statutory commitments.

FIFPRO has made more important steps towards more diversity in its governance structures. The General Assembly of Division Asia/Oceania has unanimously approved changes to its statutes which ensure more inclusive leadership before the end of the year.

Senior Legal Counsel Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud was an integral force in defining what is now known as the FIFA Maternity Regulations, and ensuring their inclusion in FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

More than two years after its last continental meeting, FIFPRO Africa held its 2021 congress on Tuesday 27 July in Accra, with the participants physically present. The reunion was marked by the approval of its new articles of association.

A group of senior international Irish players represented by Integrity Sports contributed with different amounts to an emergency fund of €30,000.