“Baby Foot”, a documentary on the motherhood of professional football players

Giving birth to a child during her career as a professional player, Jessica Houara dreamed of it when she walked the lawns … but did not dare. Today a consultant for Canal +, the former player of the France team has decided to take a closer look at those who now dare. With co-director Ikram Kchikech, they gave birth to a documentary that is more topical than ever: Baby Foot, nine months in the life of Amel Majribroadcast this Sunday (12:15 p.m.) on Canal+ Foot.

It is therefore a question of the maternity of the striker of Olympique Lyonnais, the first French international to have given life during her career, in this case a little girl last summer. The directors followed her return to competition at the start of the year, with all the necessary organization for the player and the club… such as managing the baby during training, for lack of a nanny at first.

The powerful testimony of Sara Gunnarsdottir

But all was not rosy in Lyon. Before getting there, the film also tells the hiccups with another player: Sara Gunnarsdottir, author of a column on the subject last month. In 2021, the Icelander is not supported financially during her pregnancy. Since 2020, FIFA has imposed that a club must grant paid maternity leave of at least 14 weeks to professional players. With a delay, Lyon will then pay him only two months’ salary… The testimony of Sara Gunnarsdottir, who has since joined Juventus and had OL ordered to pay him 82,000 euros, is particularly strong. To the point of causing the mea culpa of Jean-Michel Aulas in front of the camera of the directors.

The film also recounts other inspiring journeys such as those of Fleury players Charlotte Fernandes and Manon Heil or the powerful testimony of American world champion Crystal Dunn.