The Football Association (FA), the governing body of English football, has announced that transgender women will no longer be permitted to compete in women’s football in England from June 1, 2025.
The decision follows a revision of the FA’s eligibility policy, initially updated on April 11 to introduce stricter criteria for transgender participation in the women’s game. However, the policy has now been scrapped entirely after a landmark UK Supreme Court ruling on April 15, which defined “woman” strictly based on biological sex.
In a statement, the FA said: “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 acknowledged the emotional impact of the change, stating, “We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify.” The association confirmed it is reaching out to registered transgender players to explain the new policy and explore ways they can remain involved in the sport.
Sources have indicated that the Scottish FA is expected to follow suit, introducing a similar ban on transgender women’s participation in women’s football north of the border.