Megan Rapinoe slammed Olympique Lyonnais for their treatment of a former player. The French club withheld pay from the player during her pregnancy.
Rapinoe called the treatment “utterly disgraceful.” The veteran U.S. women’s national team forward plays for Lyon’s sister team in the NWSL, OL Reign.
“The culture at OL in France has a LONG way to go. Y’all love to talk about how much you support women, but this math is not mathing,” she wrote. “I implore you to be the club that is ALWAYS supporting women, not the club that once did.”
Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, who is now with Juventus, played for Lyon from 2020-22. During her tenure with the team, she became pregnant. While initially supportive, Lyon later withheld pay and did not remain in contact with her throughout her pregnancy.
Lyon cited it as an issue with French law, but FIFA rules established in late 2020 dictate that players receive pregnancy and maternity leave.
While Gunnarsdóttir eventually took the issue to international players union FIFPRO, she was told she wouldn’t have a future with the club if she were to take the issue to FIFA.
“I couldn’t wrap my head around that. I…
