FA Bars Transgender Women from Women's Football

The Football Association (FA) has announced a significant policy change, barring transgender women from participating in women's football in England, effective June 1, 2025. This decision follows the recent UK Supreme Court ruling on April 16, 2025, which determined that the legal definition of "woman" under the Equality Act 2010 is based on biological sex.
Prior to this ruling, the FA had updated its transgender inclusion policy on April 11, 2025, which allowed transgender women to play in women's football provided they maintained testosterone levels below a specified threshold for at least 12 months and underwent annual medical reviews. This updated policy also granted the FA ultimate discretion in permitting a transgender woman to play, considering factors of safety and fairness on a case-by-case basis, including match observation by an FA official.
However, the Supreme Court's judgment has led the FA to revise its stance. The FA stated that this legal clarification constituted a "material change in law," necessitating a policy review. Consequently, the governing body has concluded that only individuals born biologically female will be eligible to play in women's football in England.
This decision aligns with a similar policy update from the Scottish Football Association (SFA), which announced that starting from the 2025-26 season, only biological females will be permitted to play in competitive girls' and women's football under their jurisdiction, commencing at the under-13 level.
The FA acknowledged the impact of this decision on transgender women currently playing football, stating they would be contacted to explain the changes and explore ways for them to remain involved in the sport. It is understood that approximately 20 transgender women are currently playing at the grassroots level in England.
The FA emphasized that its role is to make football accessible to as many people as possible, operating within the law and international football policy defined by UEFA and FIFA. The previous policy was based on this principle and supported by legal counsel. However, the Supreme Court's ruling has necessitated this policy change.
This decision by the FA and SFA mirrors similar bans implemented by other sports governing bodies in the UK, including athletics, cricket, and rugby, following the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of "sex." The ruling clarified that the Equality Act's provisions allowing for the exclusion of athletes from gender-affected sports based on sex are predicated on biological sex.
While the FA's decision is based on legal grounds and considerations of fairness and safety within women's sport, it is expected to generate discussion and concern among transgender athletes and advocacy groups who champion inclusivity in sports.
Source@BBC