The Football Association (FA) of England has announced a ban preventing transgender women from participating in soccer at any level, starting June 1, 2025. This decision follows a UK Supreme Court ruling that established the legal definition of “woman” does not encompass transgender women. The ruling is expected to affect access to facilities such as restrooms and sports clubs for transgender women.

“As the governing body for the national sport, our objective is to make football accessible to everyone within the framework of the law and international football guidelines established by UEFA and FIFA,” the FA stated. “Our existing policy, which permitted transgender women to compete in women’s soccer, was created based on this principle and supported by legal experts. If there were significant changes in law, science, or grassroots football policy, we committed to reassess our stance.”

The FA’s announcement aligns with a similar decision made recently by its Scottish counterpart. This policy shift reportedly impacts around 20 transgender women playing soccer at amateur levels in England. The Supreme Court’s ruling and the corresponding FA decision have faced backlash from human rights organizations, including the Fare Network, which aims to combat discrimination in soccer.

“By instituting formal bans on transgender participation, the FA and SFA position themselves at odds with progressive federations worldwide, which are implementing inclusive policies based on scientific understanding and human rights,” the Fare Network stated. “Their actions risk legitimizing discrimination and could inspire similar measures in other regions, undermining global efforts to keep football a sport for everyone.”