New FIFA rules as door opener: Kitschy comeback of DFB star delights Wolfsburg

New FIFA rules as door opener
Kitschy comeback of DFB star delights Wolfsburg

26.09.2024, 07:19 a.m.

It is a story that only women’s football can write. National player Sellner only receives her playing permit shortly before the Champions League qualifying match against Florence. For the first time since May 2023, she is on the pitch after pregnancy and childbirth and scores straight away.

Five months after the birth of her first child, national soccer player Tabea Sellner celebrated a successful comeback for VfL Wolfsburg. The 28-year-old scored the fifth goal in the 5-0 (2-0) victory against AC Florence on Wednesday evening just nine minutes after being substituted on.

“It’s so special that I get to experience this. I can’t say more than: thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone,” said the 28-year-old. The Wolfsburg women qualified for the group stage of the Champions League thanks to this clear success.

“It quickly becomes cheesy how it went,” said VfL coach Tommy Stroot. “I am so proud of Tabs. She is back much quicker than we all expected.” Sellner, who became known under her birth name Tabea Waßmuth, last played for VfL in May 2023. She gave birth to her son Paul in April of this year. She is committed to more acceptance and tolerance of breastfeeding mothers in public.

New FIFA rules make everything much easier

The 28-year-old’s quick comeback was also helped by the new rules of the world association FIFA, which allow mothers in women’s football, among other things, paid maternity leave, the ability to change clubs outside of the transfer deadlines and simplified playing permits.

“It was really a last-minute decision yesterday in the final training session,” explained Stroot. “The question was: will we be able to implement it at all, because Tabs wasn’t on the Champions League list last week. After she returns from pregnancy, there is the option of adding her. That all happened last night.”

After a 7-0 win in the first leg, the Wolves, winners of the 2013 and 2014 Champions League, made their return to the premier class after a year’s absence. Alongside the team from the Mittelland Canal, German champions Bayern Munich will also be involved in the draw for the four groups of four in the group phase this Friday.