English FA bans transgender women from women’s football

The Football Association (FA) has announced a major policy change, stating that transgender women will no longer be allowed to participate in women’s football in England, effective from June 1.

This decision comes in the wake of an April 15 UK Supreme Court ruling that legally defined a woman based on biological sex. The FA, aligning with this ruling, has reversed its previous stance that allowed transgender women to compete under strict eligibility conditions.

Going forward, only individuals assigned female at birth will be eligible to play in women’s football competitions across the country.

“This is a complex subject, and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science, or the operation of the policy in grassroots football then we would review it and change it if necessary,” the FA said.

“We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify, and we are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game.”

The Scottish FA is expected to adopt a similar stance to the Football Association by banning transgender women from participating in women’s football in Scotland.

According to BBC Sport, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is also likely to implement a ban on transgender women competing in the women’s game.

The ECB has been seeking legal advice in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling and is anticipated to approve revisions to its transgender policy during a board meeting on Friday.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, England Netball updated its regulations to prohibit transgender women from competing in the female category.