The Football Association is undertaking a comprehensive review of its recently updated policy permitting transgender women to compete in women’s football.
The FA has sought legal counsel following the recent UK Supreme Court ruling interpreting the legal term “woman” under equalities law as referring to biological sex.
On Tuesday, the BBC reported that the Scottish Football Association plans to prohibit transgender women from participating in the women’s game.
Earlier this month, the FA revised its eligibility rules; however, sources indicate further amendments could be introduced imminently.
Currently, the FA allows participation for individuals assigned male at birth in the women’s game if they maintain testosterone levels below a designated threshold and pass an assessment by a match observer.
The Scottish FA has used a similar protocol, permitting transgender women to compete in their identified gender based on individual evaluation and testosterone criteria.
Under new regulations, however, only those who are biologically female will be eligible for competitive women’s matches in Scotland from next season.
The FA now faces mounting pressure to review its stance, as sporting bodies respond to the Supreme Court’s decision.
Former FA Chairman Lord Triesman told The Telegraph that the Scottish FA had shown “wisdom” and said “it is past time for the FA to show similar clarity”.
“The idea that the FA might ignore the Supreme Court is reckless,” he said. “With each passing day, this lack of action becomes more problematic.”
A spokesperson for the FA told the BBC: “We are carefully evaluating our policy and have sought legal advice.”
The anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out warned last week that the Supreme Court’s ruling may have “wide-ranging consequences”, while expressing “solidarity with the trans community”.
The SFA’s new directive aligns with the policy approach of other sports, including rugby, swimming, and athletics, which restrict women’s participation to those who have not gone through male puberty.
Recently, transgender athletes were excluded from the women’s division by Ultimate Pool Group, while snooker’s governing body announced a review of its gender eligibility rules.
The England and Wales Cricket Board, in light of the Supreme Court judgment, is also consulting with legal advisors regarding its current guidelines.
At present, transgender women may participate in level three county cricket and recreational formats under ECB policy.
Fifa, football’s global authority, has maintained a working group on gender eligibility for several years, citing an ongoing process and reiterating its commitment to “safe and inclusive” participation.
What impact could the Supreme Court ruling have on sports?
Campaigners advocating for restrictions on transgender women in the women’s game have staged protests ahead of matches, such as England’s fixture with the Republic of Ireland at Wembley in November.
This movement intensified after a teenage girl was banned for comments directed at a transgender opponent during a grassroots fixture.
Nevertheless, the FA’s revised policy allows those assigned male at birth to participate in the women’s game if they meet lower testosterone requirements and undergo “match observation” to assess any safety or fairness concerns.
Transgender women must supply evidence of maintaining testosterone below the set threshold for at least 12 months, detailed medical records of hormone treatment, and undergo annual medical checks.
A new formal process, involving on-field assessment by an FA official, enables the authority to rescind or deny eligibility to play in the women’s competition.
The FA also recently clarified that it holds “ultimate discretion” over eligibility decisions, which will now be handled on a case-by-case basis.
There are currently 20 transgender women registered in amateur English football, according to the FA, while none are known to play professionally across the UK nations.
In December 2023, 48 MPs cosigned a letter urging the FA to revise its transgender inclusion policy to “protect women and girls”.
This was prompted by reports of several teams forfeiting matches against a Yorkshire recreational side after an incident where a transgender player’s shot led to injury.
In September 2024, Sutton United’s women’s side postponed a match against Ebbsfleet United as a precaution, following the signing of transgender goalkeeper Blair Hamilton.
Sutton United made history in January 2024 by appointing Lucy Clark as British football’s first openly transgender manager.
In March, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said the association was seeking to “refine” its policy for transgender athletes, but maintains the current approach is “well situated”.
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