The Football Association in England has announced that as of June 1, transgender women will no longer be allowed to participate in women’s football at any level.
This decision comes after a UK Supreme Court ruling on April 15 which determined that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. As a result, the FA has withdrawn its previous policy and stated that only individuals who are biologically female at birth will be allowed to play.
“This is a complex issue, and our position has always been that if there were a significant change in law, science, or how the policy operates in grassroots football, we would review and amend it if necessary,” said the FA.
“We understand this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender they identify with, and we are reaching out to registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can remain involved in the sport.”
Other sports organizations, such as the Scottish Football Association, England Netball, and the England and Wales Cricket Board, are expected to take similar steps.
The FA confirmed there are currently fewer than 30 registered transgender women in amateur football and none in the professional game.
