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 last month 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 have now issued an outright ban.
A statement from the FA said: “As the governing body of the national sport, our 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.
“Our current policy, which allows transgender women to participate in the women’s game, was based on this principle and supported by expert legal advice.
“This is a complex subject, and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science, or the operation of the policy in grassroots football then we would review it and change it if necessary.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling on the 16 Apnil means that we will be changing our policy. Transgender women will no longer be able to play in women’s football in England, and this policy will be implemented from 1 June 2025.
“We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify, and we are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game.”
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