The Football Association (FA) of England has announced a new policy that will ban transgender women from participating in women’s football, effective June 1, 2025.
The decision follows a landmark ruling by the UK Supreme Court on April 16, which clarified that under equality laws, the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. The FA cited this ruling as the primary reason for revising its current policy.
In a statement released Thursday, the FA emphasized its commitment to inclusivity but stated that it must now align with the updated legal framework and ensure fairness within women’s football.
“As the governing body of the national sport, our responsibility is to make football as inclusive as possible, while complying with the law and international policies from UEFA and FIFA,” the statement read.
Previously, transgender women were allowed to participate based on inclusion guidelines backed by legal counsel. However, the FA noted that the policy had always been subject to change should there be significant legal, scientific, or policy developments.
“The Supreme Court’s decision on April 16 has led us to review and amend our policy. From June 1, transgender women will no longer be eligible to compete in women’s football in England,” the FA confirmed.
The association acknowledged the emotional impact of the decision on affected individuals and said it is reaching out to registered transgender players to support their continued involvement in the sport through other roles.
“We understand that this will be difficult for individuals who love the game and wish to play in the gender they identify with,” the FA stated.
The Scottish FA has also introduced a similar policy, limiting participation in girls’ and women’s football to individuals assigned female at birth, effective from the next season.
