FA bars transgender women from women's football

Transgender women will no longer be able to play in women's football in England from 1 June, the Football Association has announced.

English football's governing body amended its rules on 11 April, applying stricter eligibility criteria for transgender women to continue playing in women's football at all levels.

However, following the UK Supreme Court's ruling on 15 April that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, the FA has scrapped that policy and says only those born biologically female will be permitted to play.

"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.

"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, and we are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game."

Under amended rules announced on 11 April 2025, the FA said transgender women could continue to participate in women's football provided they met certain criteria.

Transgender women would have to prove that their testosterone levels were below prescribed levels, and prove via medical records that they had been below the limit for at least 12 months.

Each player had to provide a record of hormone therapy and an annual review of treatment.

A new formal process, which would involve a "match observation" by an FA official, would give the FA "ultimate discretion" on a case-by-case basis.