English FA bars transgender women from female football

The English Football Association says transgender women will no longer participate in female football in the country. 

In a statement on Thursday, the FA said the prohibition follows a UK supreme court’s ruling on April 16, which stated that a woman is defined by biological sex under the country’s law.

The association stated that the new rule will take effect on June 1.

The ban comes less than a month after the FA amended its policy to allow transgender women to continue to play in women’s football in England as long as they kept their testosterone levels below 5 nmol/L for at least 12 months.

“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,” the statement reads.

“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.”

The Scottish FA also barred transgender women from participating in women’s football in the country.

The participation of transgender women in female sports has been a contentious topic in recent years, with its reception mixed.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports in the US.

Previously, World Athletics, the International Swimming Federation (FINA), the World Boxing Council (WBC), the International Chess Federation, and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) have all taken measures to prohibit transgender women from participating in female sports.

However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has more lenient directives on transgender athletes in female sports.