Football: English Football Association Bans Transgender Women Players
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been announced that the English Football Association (FA) is now introducing an outright ban on transgender women playing in women’s football with effect from 1 June 2025.
This move follows the UK Supreme Court ruling, on 15 April 2025, that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
The FA amended its rules on transgender women football players on 11 April 2025, requiring stricter eligibility criteria for them to continue playing in women's football at all levels, but the FA has scrapped that policy and only those born biologically female will now be allowed to play.
A spokesperson for the FA stated as follows:
"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."
And added:
"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."
There are thought to be only 28 transgender women football players affected by the new FA ban and none in the professional game.
Other United Kingdom Sports Governing Bodies are expected to follow suit soon.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
