The Football Association (FA) has announced a ban on transgender women participating in women’s football in England, effective June 1.
The decision follows an April 15 ruling by the UK Supreme Court, which legally defined “woman” based on biological sex. The FA stated the ruling prompted a review of its eligibility policies.
Under the revised rules, only players assigned female at birth will be permitted to compete in the women’s category, replacing the previous policy that imposed strict criteria for transgender players.
“This is a complex subject,” the FA said in a statement. “We’ve always committed to reviewing our policy in response to material changes in law, science, or football operations,” he said.
The FA acknowledged the impact on transgender athletes and confirmed it is contacting affected players to offer guidance on staying involved in the sport.
