The Spanish FA Supports Reproductive Options for Female Footballers

Javier Varela 08/09/2026 a las 18:42h. The Spanish Football Federation (FEF) aims to ensure that its female athletes can decide on motherhood without risking their careers. On Tuesday, it revealed an agreement with the Tambre Clinic in Las Rozas, permitting players of both football and futsal, referees, assistants, and employees to access reproductive health services such as egg freezing and in vitro fertilisation. 'Today is a great day due to the progress we are achieving in terms of reconciliation,' stated Rafael Louzán, President of the FEF. 'This is an innovative measure that supports women and provides options.' The initiative is part of the 'Health and Women Plan' and will be effective until 2029. It will be retroactive for the senior national team from December 2025 and available to players called up at least twice, including top-tier referees. The Federation will cover the services, except for medication, and certain provisions for spouses are included. 'Access to information is crucial. It is another resource, in this case related to health, we offer them,' explained Reyes Bellver, Director of Women's Football. The initiative is part of the 'Health and Women Plan' and will be effective until 2029, accessible to players who have been called up at least twice and top-tier referees. The goal is to expand the tools available to athletes during a phase where the years of peak professional demand coincide with an important period for fertility. 'The years when athletes perform at the top level are the most significant for fertility. Previously, there wasn't as much information as there is now,' commented Inge Kormelink, CEO of Tambre Clinic. The intention, she added, is to allow them to 'make any decision regarding motherhood freely and without pressure.' Support and Criticism The internationals themselves considered the agreement a step forward. Olga Carmona highlighted the importance of 'having one more resource, choosing when and how' and being able to 'make decisions and be informed.' Patri Guijarro was even more emphatic: 'This is a very positive agreement. Being able to choose now when to be a mother, with support if we choose to be, is a concern for athletes, and this helps them not have to choose between personal life and sports life.' Vanessa Sotelo, a futsal international, argued that measures like these make it possible to be 'pioneers in both athletic and personal spheres.' However, the proposal has not been free from criticism. Ana Peleteiro criticised it as a feminist progress while Ona Carbonell insisted that 'delaying motherhood is not reconciliation' and advocated facilitating motherhood during sports careers. The Federation maintains that egg freezing is just one tool and not a replacement for reconciliation policies. 'Understanding the specificity of football is essential. Discussions help to normalise it,' responded Bellver, recalling measures such as breastfeeding rooms or allowing children to travel with the teams. The agreement responds, according to the Federation, to a request from the players during conversations with the captains. 'Thinking about their future, this topic emerged in Women's Football. From there, it spread to other categories within the Federation,' explained Bellver. The FEF believes that women's football can lead the way for other sports disciplines, summarised by Guijarro's idea: athletes should not have to choose between their personal lives and professional careers.