Women's football teams in England and Scotland prohibit participation by transgender individuals, according to the regional Football Associations.
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Football associations in England and Scotland are rolling out new policies, effectively banning transgender women from competing in women's football starting from their respective 2025-26 seasons. This shift comes after the UK Supreme Court's recent ruling on the Equality Act's interpretation of a "woman".
In a statement on Thursday, the Football Association (FA) of England disclosed these new measures, which apply to all levels of women's football in both countries. While the FA had updated its transgender inclusion policy prior to the ruling, it now bars transgender women from the women's game.
This U-turn is due to the Supreme Court's decision, which established that a "woman", as per the legal definition, is a person born as female and not someone who identifies as a woman but has a gender recognition certificate.
The FA acknowledged the potential hardship these changes might cause for transgender players. However, they emphasized their obligation to stay in line with updated legal standards and international football policies (UEFA/FIFA). Approximately 20 registered transgender players in England will be affected by these adjustments.
Similarly, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) announced that it will only permit biological females to play in competitive girls' and women's football governed by the SFA, also starting from the 2025-26 season.
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at the charity Sex Matters, celebrated the ruling, asserting that it promotes fairness and safety in sport. She explained that this decision respects the original law that sanctions the exclusion of males to ensure fair and safe competition for women and girls.
Debates surrounding gender identity and biological sex in sports have gained prominence as various sports grapple with achieving inclusivity while guaranteeing a level playing field. Other sports governing bodies, such as cycling, swimming, and athletics, have tightened their policies to effectively ban transgender competitors in some cases due to concerns about potential legal actions or potential injuries to biological women.
Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, has been vocal about safeguarding the female category. Coe has made protecting women's sports a cornerstone of his efforts to become the president of the International Olympic Committee. In March, World Athletics introduced a cheek swab test to determine an athlete's biological sex.
Parallels can be drawn to recent initiatives by the Trump administration, which recognizes only two sexes – male and female – and seeks to prevent transgender athletes from participating in women's sports through executive orders.
These developments underscore the evolving landscape of gender identity and sports participation, as governing bodies increasingly adapt policies to align with interpretations of sex-based protections. Changes in non-football related sports are also likely as specific reviews take place.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57035258[2] https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/05/07/scottish-fa-to-bar-transgender-women-from-playing-in-football[3] https://www.afp.com/en/news/1928595-england-football-votes-bar-transgender-women
Enrichment Insights:- These new policies by the English and Scottish Football Associations follow the UK Supreme Court’s April 16th, 2025, ruling on the definition of a "woman" under the Equality Act.- The reasoning behind this policy change involves compliance with updated legal standards and international football policies, such as those of UEFA and FIFA.- The FA’s ban affects approximately 20 registered transgender players, and the controversial decision reflects broader debates about gender identity and biological sex in sports.- Similar adjustments may follow in other sports as governing bodies align their policies with legal interpretations of sex-based protections.
- The Football Association in England and the Scottish Football Association have announced new policies that prohibit transgender women from participating in women's football starting from the 2025-26 seasons, following the UK Supreme Court's interpretation of the Equality Act's definition of a "woman".
- The updated transgender inclusion policy of the Football Association now bars transgender women from the women's game, prompted by the Supreme Court's decision that defines a "woman" as someone born as female, not someone who identifies as a woman but possesses a gender recognition certificate.
- The Scottish Football Association will only allow biological females to compete in girls' and women's football beginning from the 2025-26 season, mirroring the stance taken by the English FA.
- Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at the charity Sex Matters, welcomed the ruling, stating that it guarantees fairness and safety in sports by ensuring the exclusion of males for fair and safe competition in women's sports.
- The ongoing debates about gender identity and biological sex in sports have gained prominence, with sports governing bodies like cycling, swimming, and athletics modifying their policies to effectively exclude transgender competitors in some instances, due to concerns about legal actions and injuries to biological women.
- World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has advocated for safeguarding the female category in sports and made protecting women's sports a top priority in his bid for the International Olympic Committee presidency in March.
- Recent developments in the regulatory landscape of gender identity and sports participation reveal a growing trend among sporting bodies to realign their policies with interpretations of sex-based protections, influencing changes in non-football related sports as well.
