English FA to ban trans players from women’s football next season

The English Football Association (FA) has said it will ban transgender players from women’s football from next season, starting from June 1.

The move comes after Britain’s highest court delivered a controversial landmark ruling that only biological and not trans women meet the definition of a woman under equality laws. It was greeted with concern by trans supporters but welcomed by the government as bringing clarity.

The Scottish FA also decided to ban trans players from women’s football in a decision earlier this week.

The FA said in a statement on Thursday: “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 April 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.”

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.