In a significant policy shift, the English Football Association (FA) has announced that transgender women will no longer be permitted to compete in the women’s category of football in England.
This decision, set to take effect from June 1, 2025, follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling delivered on April 16, which has now forced a reconsideration of the FA’s long-standing stance on inclusion within the sport.
Previously, the FA’s policy allowed transgender women to participate in women’s football, a position it said was grounded in its core value of accessibility and shaped by expert legal advice. However, the new legal directive has prompted a rethink. “This is a complex subject,” the FA noted in an official statement, “and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science, or how the policy operated at the grassroots level, we would review and change it if necessary.”
The association acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding the decision, recognising the emotional toll it may have on those affected. “This will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify,” it added.
In response, the FA confirmed it would be reaching out directly to registered transgender women currently active within the system to explain the implications of the new policy and explore alternative ways for them to remain connected to the sport.
