UK Football Bodies Ban Trans Women After Ruling

Following a UK Supreme Court ruling defining 'woman' as someone born biologically female, the English FA will ban transgender women from women's football starting June 1, 2025. The Scottish FA has made a similar decision, and the Irish Football Association is considering the same, while other sports such as netball and cricket have also adopted comparable bans. The FA is contacting affected transgender players to offer support and discuss continued involvement in football. Supporters claim the move protects fairness and safety, but human rights groups, LGBTQ+ organizations, and individuals like Natalie Washington and India Willoughby have condemned the policy as discriminatory and harmful. The ban overturns previous rules based on testosterone levels and sharply limits transgender women's participation. The changes have intensified debates about inclusion, safety, and the legal definitions of sex in sport.