Overview

• The Football Association announced a blanket ban on transgender women in women’s football, effective June 1, 2025, following a UK Supreme Court ruling defining 'woman' by biological sex at birth.
• The Scottish Football Association will implement a similar ban starting from the 2025-26 season, with both policies covering all levels of the sport, from grassroots to professional.
• This decision affects approximately 20 registered transgender women players in England, with the FA reaching out to discuss alternative participation options within the sport.
• The FA previously allowed transgender women to play under testosterone-based eligibility criteria but revised its policy after the Supreme Court ruling clarified Section 195 of the Equality Act.
• The move is part of a broader trend across UK sports bodies reassessing transgender inclusion policies under the updated legal framework.