Effective June 1, transgender women will be prohibited from competing in women’s soccer leagues in England, a change prompted by a Supreme Court decision classifying women's eligibility based on "biological sex."
England's Football Association Bars Trans Women from Women's Soccer Amid Legal Ruling
England's Football Association Bars Trans Women from Women's Soccer Amid Legal Ruling
The Football Association announces a new policy restricting the participation of transgender women in women's soccer following a recent Supreme Court ruling on equality laws.
Transgender women will no longer be able to compete in women’s soccer leagues in England starting June 1, according to a new ruling from the Football Association (F.A.), the country's primary governing body for the sport. This decision aligns with the recent interpretation of British equality laws established by a Supreme Court ruling that categorized women based on "biological sex," excluding trans women from legal definitions of womanhood.
In a statement, the F.A. confirmed that the Supreme Court's ruling necessitated the update, impacting all levels of play including grass-roots and professional leagues. “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,” the F.A. expressed, adding that they would reach out to currently registered transgender players to provide guidance on how to remain involved in the sport.
The F.A. is not alone in revising its policies as a result of the Supreme Court decision; other organizations are re-evaluating their stances on inclusivity within sports. The Scottish Football Association has similarly declared that beginning with the 2025-26 season, only biological females will be allowed to play in competitive girls’ and women’s events.
