“It should be safe”
Novum in women’s football during pregnancy
Updated on 02.04.2025 – 5:38 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
So far, players have often had to do an uncomfortable balancing act between professional football and family planning. It should be different in Norway in the future.
The top division of the Norwegian women’s league, top series, has introduced a so far unique regulation: players will now receive the right to an automatic contract extension by one year if they become pregnant during their active time. The rule applies if the affected footballer is in the twelfth week of pregnancy before the end of her contract.
The range for extension is on unchanged conditions and is binding for all clubs in the top series. Ligachefin Marianne Solheim emphasized: “It should be sure to get pregnant for professional football players in Norway.” And further: “We want to create a work environment in which players do not have to choose between top football and their life decision.”
Defense lawyer Cecilie Redisch Kvamme from runner -up Brann Bergen welcomed the innovation in conversation with the newspaper “Verdens Gang”. She said, “These are very good news.” At the start of the season on March 23, KVMAGE was back in the squad against Rosenborg Trondheim after becoming a mother shortly before Christmas. She hopes that the regulation will make longer careers in the future.
Clubs like Master Valerenga IF or Rosenborg had already introduced a corresponding regulation before the General League Ordinance. The Italian top club AC Milan has also been a pioneer here since August 2024.