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FA Bans Transgender Women from Women's Football Following Legal Ruling. The Football Association (FA) announced that transgender women will be barred from playing in women’s football in England starting 1 June. The decision follows a change in the FA’s eligibility criteria for transgender women, which was amended on 11 April. The FA’s new stance comes after the UK Supreme Court's ruling on 15 April, stating that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. Only those born biologically female will be allowed to play in women’s football, ending the previous policy allowing transgender women to participate under specific conditions. The FA acknowledged the complexity of the issue and said it would contact registered transgender women to explain the changes. Sources reveal that the Scottish FA plans to follow the FA's decision and impose a similar ban on transgender women in women’s football. Prior to the ruling, the FA allowed transgender women to play if they met certain medical criteria, including maintaining low testosterone levels for 12 months. The FA had implemented a new review process for transgender players, which included hormone therapy records and a match observation by an FA official. Reactions to the ruling are mixed; human rights group Sex Matters called the decision “overdue,” while Football vs Transphobia warned of increased abuse towards transgender people. The FA estimates that 20 transgender women are currently registered among amateur players, though no transgender women are registered in the professional game.
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