Transgender women are prohibited from playing women's football by the English FA.
Transgender women are prohibited from playing women's football by the English FA.BBC.com
Sports News, 23:53, May 1, 2025
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The Football Association has declared that transgender women would no longer be permitted to play women's football in England as of June 1.
On April 11, it changed its regulations, imposing more stringent requirements for transgender women to continue participating in women's football at all levels.
However, the FA has abandoned that policy and states that only individuals who are born biologically female will be allowed to play, in response to the UK Supreme Court's decision on April 15 that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
"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 Football Association said.
The FA has given free treatment to players who have been barred from competition via Sporting Chance, an external organisation that offers mental health help to athletes.
"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."
Less than 30 transgender women were registered out of millions of amateur players, the FA said on Thursday.
Transgender women are not registered in any of the Home Nations' professional leagues.
Additionally, the Scottish FA said on Thursday that transgender women would no longer be allowed to play women's football in Scotland.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is also anticipated to prohibit transgender women from playing women's cricket, according to sources who spoke to BBC Sport.
Following the Supreme Court's decision, the ECB has been seeking legal guidance over its transgender policy. At a board meeting on Friday, the ECB is anticipated to approve adjustments to its transgender policy.
Additionally, England Netball modified its rules on Thursday, prohibiting transgender people from competing in the female division.
According to the Football Association of Wales, it will "await further guidance for the sports sector"
The Irish Football Association responded to a Thursday interview with BBC Sport NI by saying: "We will consider the Equality and Human Rights Commission's judgement and interim recommendations. As our decision makes clear, we are determined to take the required actions to satisfy our responsibilities under the Equality Act of 2010.
What was the prior policy of the FA?
The FA said that transgender people may still play women's football as long as they fulfilled certain requirements under the revised regulations that were made public on April 11.
In addition to providing a record of hormone therapy and an annual treatment assessment, they would need to demonstrate via medical documents that their testosterone levels had been below recommended levels for at least the previous 12 months.
The FA would have "ultimate discretion" in each case under a new formal procedure that would include a "match observation" by an FA official.
Have the players heard anything from the FA?
An FA letter warning transgender players of an instant suspension was seen by BBC Sport.
In addition to offering "free, fully confidential online talking therapy," the FA said that it aims to provide mixed-sex football starting in 2026–2027 and even recommended that participants explore other facets of the game.
"You might be willing to consider moving your enjoyment of affiliated football into coaching or being a match official," the letter continues.
How has the response been?
The human rights nonprofit Sex Matters' director of campaigns, Fiona McAnena, called the decision "overdue" and "nonsensical" for the prior stance.
Sharron Davies, a former Olympian swimmer and an outspoken advocate for transgender people in women's sports, said on X: "This is fantastic news for the safety and equity of all our girls and women in football. In the first place, it should never have been permitted. All sports now have to do the same.
Women's Rights Network, a campaign organisation, stated: "We are happy that the FA has now realised its mistake. However, getting here shouldn't have required such a struggle.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's spokesperson said that the government had "been clear that biology matters when it comes to women's sport and that everyone should be compliant with the law" when asked about his thoughts on transgender women being prohibited from participating in women's sports.
He said that the government will "continue to work to make sure that women and girls across the country can enjoy sports and we will continue to support bodies to protect the integrity, safety and fairness of the game" .
He said that athletic organisations should be in charge of establishing their own regulations.
According to Football against. Transphobia campaign director Natalie Washington, transgender women are now more likely to quit playing football.
"The people I know that are talking about this are saying, 'Well, that's it for football for me'," she said.
"Most people clearly don't feel that they can go and play in the men's game for reasons of safety, for reasons of comfort."
No "football-specific peer-reviewed research or evidence that shows the existing policies constitute a safety risk" exists, according to Pride Sports, the organisation behind the Football against. Transphobia campaign.
There should be "consequences for the most senior FA officers" who decided to let transgender people to play women's football in the past, according to former FA chairman Lord David Triesman.
"At last, the FA has realised the truth. Ignoring the Supreme Court would have been the height of folly," he added.
"Now is the time to show solidarity with the trans community and remind ourselves that football brings people together and is often a space for belonging, connection, and joy," said the anti-discrimination organisation Kick it Out.
"The recent Supreme Court judgement and the FA's policy change will have a significant impact on our friends, family, teammates, and larger communities in addition to the individuals we help.
"Transphobic abuse - on the pitch, in the stands and online - is real and rising."
How about other sports?
Following the Supreme Court's decision, the FA is the first significant governing organisation to change its qualifying requirements for transgender athletes.
Last month, transgender women were prohibited from playing in the eight-ball pool professional division by the Ultimate Pool Group (UPG).
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and other regulatory organisations are reevaluating their requirements for transgender eligibility.
Transgender women are not allowed to compete in women's competitions in sports like cycling, aquatics, or athletics.
The first British athletic organisation to provide an open category for transgender athletes to participate in was the British Triathlon in 2022.
Transgender women were prohibited from playing top domestic cricket by the ECB this year.
According to the verdict, transsexual women may still compete in the third tier and below, but players who had experienced male puberty could not compete in the top two women's divisions.
Nonetheless, it is anticipated that the ECB would abide with the FA's decision and prohibit transgender women from participating in women's sports at any level.
Three different gender participation categories are recognised under England Netball's new rules, which take into effect on September 1st: female, male, and mixed.
While mixed netball would "serve as the sport's inclusive category, allowing players to complete under the gender with which they identify," the female category would be "exclusively for players born female, irrespective of their gender identity."
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