London (dpa) – The English Football Association has announced improved contract conditions for professional footballers for the coming season and will then also introduce extended maternity leave.
This is the result of negotiations between the association (FA) and the players’ union Professional Footballers’ Association, as both institutions announced.
According to this, players in the Women’s Super League and the second-tier Women’s Championship are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave from the 2022/23 season while receiving their full salary and any additional allowances. After these 14 weeks, the statutory rate applies.
Previously, clubs could decide for themselves how they were paid during maternity leave, with statutory maternity pay being the minimum. In addition, a player had to belong to a club for at least 26 weeks to be entitled to the money. This period will no longer apply in the future.
Improved injury and illness protection, as well as better conditions for early contract termination due to a long-term injury are also part of the changes. This means that the contracts will be adjusted to the standards that have long applied to male professional footballers. Further adjustments and improvements for female soccer players are currently being discussed.