OL is defending herself against Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir’s horrific revelations
When we talk about women’s football, Olympique Lyonnais is immediately called a world reference. With their 15 French championship titles and 8 Champions Leagues, the Fenottes are the most successful team in the history of the French championship and the continental scene. However, it seems that all is not so rosy behind the scenes. Yesterday, Icelandic player Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir did steal the media’s attention by dropping a bomb. In the interview given to Players Stand, the midfielder returned to one of the important subjects of women’s football: the management of pregnant players. In other words: the Icelandic accuses OL of not paying her full salary during her 2021 pregnancy.
“I know this story may upset some influential people in the world of football, but I must tell the truth. I want to make sure no one has to go through what I went through again. And I want Lyon to know that’s not good. » Thus, the Rhone management will only pay him €27,000 out of the €109,000 that should have been. Since then, FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber decided the case in May 2022 and OL was ordered to pay around €82,000 to the player along with interest. But for people who are thriving today at Juventus, the ways of thinking from the Lyon management, and especially that of Vincent Ponsot, have not passed. “ Since the first month, I did not receive a salary. All that is paid is a fraction of Social Security. Then I didn’t get paid for the next two months. I called Dietmar, my agent, and he wrote to Vincent (Ponsot), the club manager. No response. When Vincent Ponsot finally answered, he apologized for the two months I had missed. And told me that I will be paid for this. But for the third month, he’s talking about French law. Which means they owe me nothing more. (…) When I first told the club about my pregnancy they seemed really happy for me and told me they would do anything to support me, and I believed them. But now I’m not so sure, she says. But that’s not all.
OLs react
Gunnarsdottir also added that his boss advised against taking the baby with him to his team’s away games. The reason? It can “disturbing other players on the bus or on the plane, if you keep crying”. Finally, he claims that during a meeting with Ponsot, Jean-Michel Aulas barged in, but did not greet the player. “The president also walked into the room while I was there. It was the first time he saw me since I came back with my baby. He didn’t even greet me, look at me, or greet Ragnar. But Vincent had just assured me, five minutes earlier, of the case, that “it’s nothing personal”. After that moment, with the president, however it was clear this was the case. » Strong testimony that prompted OL to react through a press release sent to the media.
“Olympique Lyonnais has always been a pioneer in women’s football and supports athletes at every stage of their lives. We always respect French laws, which we sometimes find too strict in this regard. Therefore, we are always campaigning for increased player protection at these points. We have done everything we can to support Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir as a mother, as well as her return to the highest level. At her request, we agreed to allow her to take maternity leave in Iceland, her country of origin. When she returned to France, following the birth of her son, we did everything to push her back to the highest level in conditions that would allow her to live her new life as a mother to the best of her ability, as well as her return to competition, thanks in particular to the extensive support, such as which we did next with Amel Majri. This subject is very close to our hearts and we are proud to have accompanied her in the last few months of her pregnancy right up until her return to the court against Soyaux, also allowing her to travel with her daughter and nanny. In recent months, FIFA has voted for the first time to establish a legal framework for players who have to go through childbirth during their careers, which we are pleased with, the club noted. FIFA are now criticizing us for not offering Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir another job during her sick leave and then her maternity leave, while at the same time the law forbids us from doing so in France and the player has expressly asked us to be able to do so. to return to live in Iceland, which we have accepted. We are proud to have included Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir in the Olympique Lyonnais squad. Our paths separated for purely sporting reasons. » It says.
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