The FA Bans Transgender Women from English Women’s Football Starting June 1
The English Football Association (FA) has announced a significant policy change: from June 1, 2025, transgender women will no longer be permitted to compete in women’s football leagues across England.
What Prompted the Ban?
The FA’s decision follows a UK Supreme Court ruling on April 16, 2025, which legally defined “woman” under the Equality Act 2010 as someone biologically born female. This prompted the FA to align its policies with the new legal interpretation.
Previous Policy on Trans Athletes in Football
Until now, transgender women were allowed to play in women’s teams if they had reduced their testosterone levels for at least 12 months. However, the FA now considers this insufficient for fairness and compliance with updated legal and sports standards.
New Participation Rules for Transgender Athletes
Under the revised policy:
Transgender women are no longer eligible to participate in female-only competitions. They may compete in open or men’s categories instead.
The FA is reaching out to the roughly 20 registered transgender players in England to explain the decision and provide options for future involvement.
Impact on Sports and Athletes
The FA acknowledged the emotional weight of the decision and has committed to continued dialogue with affected individuals. This mirrors moves by other sporting bodies such as England Netball, which recently made similar gender-based restrictions.
Reactions: Fairness vs. Inclusivity Supporters argue the policy protects fairness and safety in women’s sports. Critics say it excludes and alienates transgender athletes who already face marginalization.
FA’s Statement and Commitment
The FA emphasized that the decision aims to strike a balance between inclusion, legal compliance, and fairness in competitive play. It reaffirmed its commitment to supporting all footballers within current legal frameworks and FIFA/UEFA regulations.
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