The English Football Association (FA) and the Scottish FA have announced that from 1st June, only those born biologically female will be allowed to play in women's football in England and Scotland, following the UK Supreme Court's ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. This ban also seems to be extended to the women's game in cricket, as sources have indicated that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is also expected to implement the same policy.
The announcement has left many transgender women, including Natalie Washington, who played men's Sunday League football before joining a women's team in 2017, feeling shocked and betrayed. Washington, one of 28 trans women registered to play amateur football in England, fears that the ban will force many transgender women out of football altogether.
On the other hand, former swimmer and campaigner Sharron Davies, who won a silver medal at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, has long argued against the inclusion of trans women in women's sport. She is overjoyed by the decision, arguing that biological males have physical advantages over females in sports like football and cricket.
The FA has offered free, confidential online therapy to the affected players and expressed hope for the availability of mixed-gender football from the 2026-27 season. However, Davies suggests that the FA must find ways to be inclusive for everyone.
Source: BBC Sports Football
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