Trans ban in women’s game

Change follows the Supreme Court’s ruling last month

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD ARCHIE MITCHELL

Transgender women will be banned from playing women’s football in England from next season, the Football Association has said.

The FA said the move follows the UK Supreme Court’s ruling two weeks ago that a woman” is defined by biological sex. The change applies to all levels of the game and will be implemented from 1 June.

The FA had updated their transgender inclusion policy prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, allowing transgender women to play in women’s football if they reduced their testosterone levels, but the body has now issued an outright ban.

In updating their policy last month, the FA said there were around 20 transgender women registered in amateur women’s football teams in England. There are no transgender women playing professionally in England.