The Royal Spanish Football Federation has reached an agreement with the Tambre clinic to cover the costs of IVF and egg freezing for national team players, female referees, and employees of the organization. The program will run until 2029 and will also allow participants to live with their families during tournaments.
Some footballers welcomed the initiative. They said it was a meaningful way to support motherhood and show respect for female athletes. However, Olympic athletics bronze medalist Ana Peleteiro-Compaoré called the decision “deeply sexist.”
She said the measure encourages female athletes to postpone pregnancy instead of creating proper conditions for combining sport and motherhood — including protecting contracts, providing childcare, and guaranteeing a return to sport after childbirth.
