England FA Bans 28 Transgender Women from Women's Football

England's Football Association (FA) has implemented a ban on transgender women participating in women's football at all levels, following an April UK Supreme Court ruling that legally defines a woman as someone born biologically female. The FA had previously permitted transgender women to play if they met certain medical criteria, but scrapped this policy in light of the court's decision, impacting fewer than 30 registered transgender women in amateur football. Clubs like Goal Diggers FC have responded by organizing inclusive tournaments and withdrawing from FA-affiliated leagues to continue providing a space for trans and non-binary players. The move has sparked strong emotions, with affected players like Billie Sky expressing sadness at being excluded from teams they helped succeed, and concerns about safety if forced to play in men's leagues. While some grassroots players support the ban as protecting the integrity of women's sport, trans-rights groups and allies have condemned it as detrimental and exclusionary. The FA has offered mental health support to those affected, acknowledging the difficulty for individuals who simply wish to play in the gender by which they identify.