England Football Association (FA) has announced that transgender women would be barred from playing women’s football beginning June 1.
The verdict follows a finding by the UK Supreme Court on April 16, which concluded that, under equalities law, a woman is defined by biological sex. The association cited this as a key factor in updating its policy.
In a statement released by the English FA on Thursday, the association said it remains committed to making football accessible but must align with the current legal definitions and ensure fairness in the women’s game.
“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,” the statement reads.
It was also noted that the present policy, which permitted transgender people to play in the women’s game, was founded on the idea of inclusivity and was backed by competent legal opinion.
The FA stated that if any applicable laws or rules changed, it would be necessary to reconsider its policy.
“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 April 16 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 June 1, 2025.”
According to the statement, the football association acknowledged that the decision may be difficult for affected persons.
“We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender with which they identify.
“We are reaching out to the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and discuss how they can continue to remain involved in the game,” the FA said.
