By court ruling
English association excludes trans women from women’s football
01.05.2025 – 2:52 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
From next month, trans women in England are no longer allowed to play in pure women’s teams. The basis is a supreme court decision.
From June 1st, a new regulation will take place in English football: trans women can no longer take part in the game in pure women’s teams. The English Association FA announced this – and thus followed a judgment of the British Supreme Court, which caused a stir nationwide.
So far, trans women had also been possible to play in the amateur area with women’s teams. According to the judgment of the highest court of Great Britain, which women defined only as biologically female within the meaning of the Equal Opportunities Act, the association has now decided to adapt a clear adjustment. The Scottish association had previously made a similar decision.
“We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply play the game they love in the gender they identify with (…),” said a FA announcement. The message will be contacted with the trans women who are currently playing in order to explain the changes and to show them how they could continue to participate in the game.
According to a report by the Sky News report, there are currently no trans women in English professional football. Around 20 amateur players are affected by the new regulation.
The judgment of the British Supreme Courts in April had laid the legal basis for the decision. Accordingly, trans women cannot rely on equality in women’s sports, since according to the law, this only applies to biological women. The judges emphasized that the protection of discrimination against trans people. The judges emphasized.
In other social areas, there are already effects: In response to the judgment, the British equality commission had published a guideline, according to which transpersonen should use toilets, showers and changing rooms assigned to the birth in the future.
A government spokesman emphasized that biology played a role in women’s sports and emphasized: “Everyone should adhere to applicable law.” At the same time, he pointed out that sports associations are allowed to determine their rules independently.