FA to Enforce Ban on Transgender Women in Women’s Football Following Legal Ruling

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FA to Enforce Ban on Transgender Women in Women’s Football Following Legal Ruling

 

From June 1, transgender women will no longer be allowed to participate in women’s football in England at any level, following a landmark decision by the Football Association (FA). This new regulation, announced in response to a Supreme Court ruling on April 16, marks a significant shift in the governing body’s stance on transgender inclusion in sport.

 

Until now, the FA had permitted transgender women to play in amateur women’s leagues if they had maintained reduced testosterone levels—below 5nmol per litre—for at least 12 months. However, the legal redefinition of “woman” has compelled the FA to revise its policy. “The Supreme Court’s ruling on the 16 April means that we will be changing our policy. Transgender women will no longer be able to play in women’s football in England, and this policy will be implemented from June 1, 2025,” said the FA.

 

Acknowledging the impact of the decision, the FA continued, “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 FA emphasized that it must act within the framework of both UK law and international football policy as set by UEFA and FIFA. “Our current policy, which allows transgender women to participate in the women’s game, was based on this principle and supported by expert legal advice,” the FA explained. “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 move aligns football with several other sports, such as rugby union and hockey, which have already restricted women’s competitions to those born female. Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at advocacy group Sex Matters, welcomed the decision, stating, “This is welcome but long overdue. The FA has had ample evidence of the harms to women and girls caused by its nonsensical policy of letting men who identify as women play in women’s teams. The requirement to lower their testosterone tells you that everyone knew they were not women.”

 

She continued, “Thankfully, the UK Supreme Court has now confirmed this, saying it is lawful to exclude ‘all men, including trans women, regardless of their GRC status.’ Every other sporting body now needs to re-establish a genuine women’s category, and this shameful period in history will finally be brought to an end.”

 

Currently, around 20 transgender women play amateur football in England under the April 1 rules. While FIFA only mandates reduced testosterone levels, there have been no known cases of transgender women seeking to play at elite or international levels in England. Canadian international Quinn, who identifies as transgender and non-binary, continues to play in women’s football, having been born female.

 

The policy shift comes amid rising tensions and scrutiny around trans inclusion in sports. In September, Sutton United’s women’s team postponed a match following backlash over the inclusion of transgender goalkeeper Blair Hamilton. Sutton’s manager Lucy Clark, the first openly trans referee in English football, took the helm in January 2024. In another incident, a 17-year-old girl was suspended for two matches after repeatedly asking a transgender opponent, “Are you a man?” during a grassroots game, prompting a protest outside Wembley Stadium.

 

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is also expected to follow suit. The ECB currently allows self-identification at amateur levels, but after adopting stricter rules for professional cricket in line with the International Cricket Council, its directors are set to vote on whether to extend the ban to all levels of the women’s game. If approved, players who have undergone male puberty will no longer be allowed to compete in women’s or girls’ cricket, whether professional or recreational.

 

As sporting bodies across the UK respond to legal and public pressure, the FA’s decision may be a harbinger of broader changes ahead, reshaping participation and inclusion across the sporting landscape.

 

Related Topics:

Cricket Authorities Ban on Transgender Women in Female Competitions Following Legal Ruling

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-03

 

 

[jippytum]

Quite correct action. The trans cheats should also return any awards received by maserading as different gender to gain an unjust advantage in sports competitions. 

[Watawattana]

Why did it need the UK Supreme Court to give this judgement for the UK sports bodies to start to see the obvious?

[Smokey and the Bandit]

Absolutely 100% correct, but now we a transgender judge taking the Supreme Court to to the ECHR!!

I know its slightly off topic, but relevant I think!

 

"Dr Victoria McCloud, who stepped down from court last year, said the judgement and equality watchdog's new guidance violated her human rights and she felt "contained and segregated".

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qw2149yelo

[Chelseafan]

2 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Why did it need the UK Supreme Court to give this judgement for the UK sports bodies to start to see the obvious?

 

"Common sense" got packed into a container and was buried deep underground back in the 90's. Finally it's been dug up!!

 

I am fine with people switching sex (on their own dime) but they must know they can't have their cake and eat it!!

 

 

 

 

[blazes]

1 hour ago, Watawattana said:

Why did it need the UK Supreme Court to give this judgement for the UK sports bodies to start to see the obvious?

 

Absolutely correct.  Shameful that so few sports bodies had the basic common sense to introduce this ban years ago.

If some city or region wanted, they could have women and men playing together with rules amended to prevent certain kinds of tackles etc.  Amateur, Sunday league kind of stuff, but everyone's happy....

[Watawattana]

48 minutes ago, blazes said:

 

Absolutely correct.  Shameful that so few sports bodies had the basic common sense to introduce this ban years ago.

If some city or region wanted, they could have women and men playing together with rules amended to prevent certain kinds of tackles etc.  Amateur, Sunday league kind of stuff, but everyone's happy....

You make a good point on men and women playing together.  Hockey has plenty of mixed events, and even at least one international.  The international is played with normal rules, but the selectors are sensible and won't pick idiots.  A local mixed league where I live bans any player from hitting the ball to keep it more safe.  This league operates year after year, so it works well!

[Chelseafan]

If Trans people want to play in sport then they should create their own seperate associations, after all we seperate men and women so why should it be different for Trans?

 

 

[soalbundy]

7 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Why did it need the UK Supreme Court to give this judgement for the UK sports bodies to start to see the obvious?

fear of woke.

[JonnyF]

Good.

 

Red card to all trans.

 

Kick it out.