English FA bans Transgender women from playing football

The Football Association of England (FA) has officially banned Transgender women from competing in women’s football in England after a policy change prompted by a UK Supreme Court ruling on the matter, the FA announced on Thursday.

In a ruling that has received mixed reactions, Britain's highest court ruled on 16 April that only biological and not trans women meet the definition of a woman under equality laws.

It was a landmark decision greeted with concern by trans supporters but welcomed by the government as bringing clarity over a long-standing issue of concern.

The FA’s policy had previously allowed transgender women to participate in the women’s game, arguing that it was prejudicial to Trans women based on their lack of choice of sexual orientation at birth, but this will change from 1 June.

"The Supreme Court’s ruling on the 16th April means that we will be changing our policy," the soccer governing body said in a statement.

Transgender women will no longer be able to play in women’s football in England, and this policy will be implemented from 1 June 2025."

The FA said the policy allowing transgender women to play was rooted in making the sport accessible to as many people as possible, "supported by expert legal advice" and aligned with international rules set by UEFA and FIFA.

"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," it added.

The move has been met with dismay by rights groups, who feel that it is unfair to ban transgender women based on their mixed sexual orientation simply because they do not choose to be so at birth.