Starting June 1, transgender women will no longer be allowed to play in women’s soccer in England, the Football Association (FA) announced on Thursday.
The FA said it recognizes this will be difficult for many players. “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,” the FA stated. It added that it is reaching out to transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can stay involved in other ways.
The ban will apply to all levels of women’s soccer in England—from professional leagues to local grassroots teams. The FA confirmed this in a statement to CNN Sport.
According to CNN, about 20 transgender women, all playing in amateur competitions, may be affected by this decision.
The move follows a ruling by the UK Supreme Court in April. The court decided that the legal definition of “woman” in equality laws means a “biological woman.” This ruling is expected to impact how trans women are treated in areas like sports, public bathrooms, and hospital wards.
Just days before that ruling, the FA had allowed transgender women to play if their testosterone levels were below 5.0 nanomoles per liter of blood for at least 12 months before a match. That policy aimed to balance fairness and inclusivity.
In its Thursday announcement, the FA said its previous policy was developed to make football “accessible to as many people as possible,” and was supported by legal and medical advice, as well as rules from UEFA and FIFA.
The FA added, “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.”
Scotland’s football association recently announced a similar ban, also starting next season.
LGBTQ advocacy group Stonewall criticized the FA’s decision. A spokesperson called it “incredibly disappointing,” especially given the FA’s past support for campaigns like Rainbow Laces, which promote inclusion in sports.
“This decision has been made too soon,” Stonewall said. “It comes before the legal effects of the Supreme Court’s ruling have been fully examined or passed into law.”
Stonewall also warned that transgender women will feel excluded. “Trans people remain protected under the law and need to be treated with dignity and respect,” the spokesperson said. “This announcement lacks any detail on how those legal obligations will be upheld.”
The group added that quick decisions without full legal and public consultation are not the right approach.
CNN has contacted FIFA, UEFA, and LGBTQ group Athlete Ally for further comment.
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