SFA HUMILIATES SWINNEY AND STOPS TRANS WOMEN FROM COMPETING

MINISTERS FLOUNDERING

- By David Walker

SCOTLAND'S footballing authorities have defied John Swinney and ordered a ban on trans women competing in football.

The decision by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) emerged just a day after the First Minister urged public bodies not to rush into crafting new trans guidance.

It was another humiliating day for the SNP leader, with three of his backbenchers saving Green MSP Maggie Chapman from the sack from a Holyrood committee after she accused the Supreme Court of "bigotry, prejudice and hatred".

Hours later, the Scottish Government said it will not yet roll out new guidance to public sector organisations such as health boards, quangos, the prison service and Police Scotland.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published interim guidance for businesses and public bodies on Friday where it said that in places such as hospitals, shops and restaurants, trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use women's facilities but they should not be left with no facilities to use.

On sports, it did not provide a ruling but chairwoman Baroness Falkner previously stated that trans women should no longer compete in female sports.

The SFA is now updating its gender policy from next season to ensure that only those born biologically female will be allowed to take part in competitive matches in the women's game.

Its current guidelines allow trans women to compete in their affirmed gender category on a case-by-case basis, with testosterone levels also taken into account.