Lazio have released a statement after losing the landmark case for unfairly terminating the employment of player Maja Gothberg due to her pregnancy, but it only made the fans angrier.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled today that Lazio Women must pay former player Gothberg over €69,000 in compensation.
She had already agreed a new contract in 2024 and was ready to sign it when she informed the club of her pregnancy, but the paperwork was never registered.
When she did not travel for pre-season training due to nausea, Lazio claimed this meant she had withdrawn from the proposed contract and it was no longer binding.
The club released a lengthy statement this afternoon in the wake of the landmark case, the first of its kind in Women’s Football.
Lazio statement on Gothberg case
“S.S. Lazio Women 2015 A.R.L. acknowledges the award rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the proceedings brought by player Maja Gothberg.
“While fully respecting the findings of the Arbitral Panel, the Club believes it is important to underline a number of elements within the award that confirm the exceptional and highly specific nature of this case.
“The Panel expressly recognized that the matter was characterized by a unique set of factual circumstances, distinguishing it from ordinary employment-related disputes in professional football. Among these circumstances was the fact that the player disclosed her pregnancy before the commencement of the sporting season, prior to joining the Club, and before the formal execution of the employment agreement.
“In light of these particular circumstances, CAS did not impose the additional sporting sanctions provided under FIFA regulations for cases involving discriminatory conduct or contract termination related to maternity. The award acknowledges that S.S. Lazio Women 2015 A.R.L. did not act in bad faith and that the Club proceeded on the basis of a legal interpretation which, although ultimately not upheld by the Panel, was considered to have been genuinely adopted.
“The award also highlights that all communications between the parties were conducted through the player’s representative. At no stage did S.S. Lazio Women 2015 A.R.L. receive direct communication from the player regarding the continuation of the contractual relationship, nor any request for clarification, nor the return of an executed agreement following the transmission of the contractual documentation prepared by the Club.
“The Panel further observed that no direct contact ever occurred between the Club and the player and noted that the player could have sought direct clarification regarding the Club’s position before initiating formal proceedings.
“Against this background, the factual findings set out in the award indicate that the dispute arose within a particularly complex negotiation process conducted exclusively through intermediaries. This circumstance contributed significantly to the misunderstandings and differing interpretations that ultimately led to the proceedings.
“S.S. Lazio Women 2015 A.R.L. remains firmly committed to safeguarding the rights and welfare of its athletes and to promoting the principles of inclusion, respect, equality, and non-discrimination that are fundamental to the continued development of women’s football.
“The Club will continue to review and strengthen its internal procedures to ensure full alignment with the evolving national and international regulatory framework governing professional sport and employment relations.”
This angered many Lazio fans, who wrote in response to the statement on social media that they had ‘learned nothing’ and were still trying to deny there had been any wrongdoing. ‘It’s just embarrassing.’
The ultras have long been protesting against President Claudio Lotito, boycotting the home matches at the Stadio Olimpico, and this was for them further evidence of his difficulties in running the club.
