Soccer-Ellis hails new FIFA rules around pregnancy, adoption and menstruation

Soccer Football - FIFA Football Conference - Milan, Italy - September 22, 2019 Former United States women's coach Jill Ellis speaks about winning the 2019 women's World Cup REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo/ File Photo

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - FIFA's new pay regulations to support female players and coaches through pregnancy, adoption and maternity leave are a big step for women who have struggled to juggle children and career, said former U.S. coach Jill Ellis.

Among the regulations, approved unanimously by the FIFA Council earlier this month, the minimum 14 weeks' paid maternity leave for players has been extended to coaches, plus players and coaches adopting a child will be entitled to eight weeks' paid absence when the adopted child is younger than two.