The English Football Association (FA) has announced a controversial new policy that will bar transgender women from participating in women’s football across England from 1 June 2025. The decision, which follows a recent UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of “woman” is based on biological sex, has reignited a polarising debate about fairness, inclusion, and the future of women’s sports.
Under the new policy, only individuals assigned female at birth will be eligible to participate in women’s football. The ruling applies to all levels of the game, including amateur and grassroots competitions. The FA confirmed that 28 transgender women are currently registered to play in England.
The move comes as part of a broader trend across UK sports bodies. The Scottish FA announced a similar ban shortly after the English FA’s declaration, and sources have told BBC Sport that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is likely to follow suit.
“A De Facto Ban on Trans Women in Football”
Natalie Washington, a former men’s Sunday League player and campaign lead for Football v Transphobia, expressed deep concern over the decision. Washington, one of the 28 affected players, has played in women’s amateur football since 2017 and described the new policy as a personal and communal setback.
“It is a shock,” she told BBC Sport. “This means for me personally, and for many others, that we are no longer able to do the thing we love and have been doing for decades.”
Washington, who began her transition over a decade ago, explained that returning to men’s football is not a viable option for most trans women due to both the physical changes brought on by hormone therapy and safety concerns.
“The effect that hormones have had means when I play five-a-side kickabouts with men, I can’t keep up,” she said. “It’s going to be very mentally challenging and potentially physically dangerous for trans women to go back to men’s teams—if they ever played there at all.”
She also criticised the disproportionate focus on a “very small number of people who aren’t causing a problem,” arguing that the new policy effectively excludes trans women from football entirely.
“The reality is there aren’t enough of us to create our own leagues,” Washington added. “This is a de facto ban from football.”
The FA, in a letter sent to affected players, acknowledged the emotional toll the policy may have. It offered “free, fully confidential online talking therapy” and indicated plans to expand mixed-gender football options by the 2026–27 season. The letter also suggested that those barred from playing might consider alternative roles in the sport, such as coaching or officiating.
“Women Are Getting Their Sport Back”
On the other side of the debate, former Olympic swimmer and long-time campaigner Sharron Davies welcomed the policy as a necessary step to preserve the integrity of women’s sport.
“I’m overjoyed that women are getting their sport back at last,” Davies said. “Hopefully cricket will follow.”
Davies, 62, has argued for years that biological differences between men and women provide unfair advantages to trans women in competitive sport, particularly in physical contact games like football.
“The science is still the same,” she said. “Males kick 50% harder than females, they’re taller, have bigger hands and feet, and are more dynamic—especially in goal.”
Davies also pointed to several distressing examples she’s heard from families: young girls suffering serious injuries during games, or receiving bans for reacting negatively when faced with trans women competitors.
“I’ve spoken to heartbroken parents. I’ve heard from girls who self-harmed after season-ending injuries. There are autistic girls who’ve been banned for recognising that there’s a male player on the pitch,” she added.
For Davies and many of her supporters, the issue is not about transphobia, but about fairness and safety.
“This affects half the population—women and girls who play football at every level,” she said. “As a biological female, you are entitled to the same integrity in your sport as anyone else.”
While she emphasised her belief that “everyone deserves to do sport,” Davies argued that inclusion must not come at the expense of fairness and safety for women.
A Balancing Act Between Inclusion and Fairness
The FA finds itself at the centre of a fraught cultural and ethical debate—one that has divided athletes, activists, and fans alike.
The association says its decision is based on “fair competition and safety” and that it consulted with medical experts, stakeholders, and sports scientists before finalising the policy. While the FA claims it remains committed to inclusivity, many LGBTQ+ advocacy groups argue that the move undermines that very principle.
Dr. Veronica Ivy, a trans athlete and academic, recently wrote on social media: “Inclusion without meaningful participation is not inclusion. If trans women cannot play sports as women, we are excluded in practice—no matter how kindly worded the policy is.”
Others argue that the FA must continue to explore ways to support all athletes, such as creating more robust mixed-gender leagues or offering specific pathways for trans players.
The Future of Football
As the dust settles on the FA’s landmark decision, questions remain about how the policy will be implemented, enforced, and reviewed. The impact on individual lives—particularly for those who have found community, confidence, and belonging through football—will likely be long-lasting.
Meanwhile, sporting bodies across the UK and beyond will be watching closely, as they too grapple with how to balance fairness and inclusion in an evolving world.
The debate is far from over.
Read also:English FA bans transgender women from competing in women football
