Starting June 1, only individuals born biologically female will be eligible to participate in women’s football across England. The Football Association (FA) has formally ended its previous policy that allowed transgender women to compete based on hormone levels and other criteria.
The updated rule comes in response to a UK Supreme Court ruling earlier in April that defined a woman legally as someone born female, according to Inside World Football. This decision has given governing bodies like the FA a clearer legal framework to revise eligibility standards in competitive sport.
Previously, the FA tried to balance inclusion with fairness through a case-by-case approach. However, critics described that system as unclear and inconsistent, creating more questions than answers for athletes and officials.
Now, the FA has adopted a “biological female only” policy, similar to what swimming and cycling authorities have already introduced. Scotland’s FA is expected to implement a comparable change soon.
“This is a complex subject, and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science, or the operation of the policy in grassroots football then we would review it and change it if necessary,” the FA said.
While some advocacy groups, such as Sex Matters, praised the update as overdue, others, including Football vs Transphobia, have warned it may discourage transgender athletes from participating in sport at all. The FA confirmed it is contacting current transgender players to explain the change and explore ways they can remain engaged with football.
Article updated 3 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
