| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football 11:30 - May 1 with 10403 views | Swansea_Blue |
Which I suppose is effectively a ban from all football for any that have gone through any form of conversion therapy. No mention of a position on trans men though.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz01z4rdx4no
Hmm, Football or General? [Post edited 1 May 11:30]
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:15 - May 1 with 1022 views | Benters |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 11:37 - May 1 by textbackup |
Common sense |
This. |  |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:16 - May 1 with 1018 views | Herbivore |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 18:47 - May 1 by Hugoagogo_Reborn |
When in life is it ever not so? |
If we just disregard the rights and needs of minority groups, it can lead us to pretty dark places. |  |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:18 - May 1 with 1024 views | Durovigutum |
There are reportedly 20 registered trans women playing in women’s football. This season I refereed a game involving one of them. She (they?) was one of the smaller players on the pitch and had no physical size advantage. She was one of the quicker players but had a very inconsistent ability with ball control, first touch being quite heavy at times and passing range being fairly poor. I didn’t realise she was trans until towards the end of the game following a comment from a team mate and then a conversation on the side line. It saddens me that she won’t be able to play next season - my motivation to referee is that people can play and (hopefully) enjoy football.
The problem is I can see the opportunity for “mischief” from those motivated to do so - as in the USA where someone not quite good enough declares themself trans just to win competitions at the behest of genetic women.
It’s also being missed in the commentary that we still don’t have a professional player who has come out as gay? Is it a surprise the trans element is causing controversy? |  | | |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:30 - May 1 with 995 views | Trequartista |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:13 - May 1 by Herbivore |
You don't think trans men, who are now considered to be women, who have been undergoing a transition that involves taking testosterone would have a physical advantage over cis women? The supreme court ruling opens the door for trans men to potentially participate in women only sports and to access women only spaces. |
You don't need to put 'cis'. Trans men can play with men because they have no physical advantage unlike trans women playing with women. They can't play against women if they've been taking testosterone. I don't know what the drug rules are, but that would be clearly cheating. |  |
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| Hopefully all other sports..... on 19:36 - May 1 with 965 views | Bloots |
....particularly those where physicality is important follow suit.
Well played, for once, The FA. |  |
| "The sooner he comes back the better, this place has been a disaster without him" - TWTD User (July 2025) |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:37 - May 1 with 964 views | Herbivore |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:30 - May 1 by Trequartista |
You don't need to put 'cis'. Trans men can play with men because they have no physical advantage unlike trans women playing with women. They can't play against women if they've been taking testosterone. I don't know what the drug rules are, but that would be clearly cheating. |
I can use the word cis if I want to, thanks. There were nuanced rules around testosterone levels and when people transitioned and at what level people could compete across a range of sports but now we're ending up with very rigid rules. Not sure on the rules on testosterone in football or how you'd test at grass roots level should a trans man want to exercise their right to participate in a female only sport. | |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:39 - May 1 with 958 views | Swansea_Blue |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:18 - May 1 by Durovigutum |
There are reportedly 20 registered trans women playing in women’s football. This season I refereed a game involving one of them. She (they?) was one of the smaller players on the pitch and had no physical size advantage. She was one of the quicker players but had a very inconsistent ability with ball control, first touch being quite heavy at times and passing range being fairly poor. I didn’t realise she was trans until towards the end of the game following a comment from a team mate and then a conversation on the side line. It saddens me that she won’t be able to play next season - my motivation to referee is that people can play and (hopefully) enjoy football.
The problem is I can see the opportunity for “mischief” from those motivated to do so - as in the USA where someone not quite good enough declares themself trans just to win competitions at the behest of genetic women.
It’s also being missed in the commentary that we still don’t have a professional player who has come out as gay? Is it a surprise the trans element is causing controversy? |
Excellent contribution, thanks. I suspect you’re the only one on this thread with any lived experience of trans people in football. You’re probably a novelty in the referee world too, given they’re rarer than rocking horse crap.
The sad thing for that particular player is that the FA had safeguards in place. If I’ve understood correctly what I’ve been reading today they already required evidence of appropriately low testosterone and even then they could exclude anyone they believed was gaining a physical advantage. That stance protected the integrity of competition and supported their aim to be inclusive, allowing that player to be involved.
The more I read, the more I feel they’ve been cowardly and hidden behind the court ruling. There wasn’t a problem that needed fixing and they didn’t need to change their rules. But I can see how it covers the arse of the organisation, which ultimately is the only thing executives are worried about (having been there myself!). | |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:58 - May 1 with 910 views | Trequartista |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:18 - May 1 by Durovigutum |
There are reportedly 20 registered trans women playing in women’s football. This season I refereed a game involving one of them. She (they?) was one of the smaller players on the pitch and had no physical size advantage. She was one of the quicker players but had a very inconsistent ability with ball control, first touch being quite heavy at times and passing range being fairly poor. I didn’t realise she was trans until towards the end of the game following a comment from a team mate and then a conversation on the side line. It saddens me that she won’t be able to play next season - my motivation to referee is that people can play and (hopefully) enjoy football.
The problem is I can see the opportunity for “mischief” from those motivated to do so - as in the USA where someone not quite good enough declares themself trans just to win competitions at the behest of genetic women.
It’s also being missed in the commentary that we still don’t have a professional player who has come out as gay? Is it a surprise the trans element is causing controversy? |
It is sad, and I wouldn't be shocked if all 20-30 trans women have no advantage at all.
But when you make choices in life you sometimes have to make sacrifices. You have rights, the right to not be discriminated against however you define yourself. But you can't demand things that trample on other people's rights. The "opportunity for mischief" has been taken in many sports now. | |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:04 - May 1 with 887 views | DJR |
The World Service had an interview with a trans woman and the coach of her team which has three trans players. They will no longer be able to play for the team which struck me as very sad, especially with the support and friendship being a member of a team entails, something the trans woman thought especially important.
Of course, there is clearly a case for the exclusion of trans women in elite sport, but this is a grassroots team.
As it is, the FA appear to have rather rushed things given the following which sets out the terms of the rather insensitive email sent to trans people.
https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/fa-tells-trans-players-referees-coaches-get-t
"Banned trans footballers told to become referees or coaches - or get therapy
An email sent to the 20 registered players offered six free therapy sessions"
This is Stonewall's take with which I agree.
"The FA and Scottish FA’s decision to ban trans women from women’s football has been made too soon, before the implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling has been worked through by lawyers and politicians or become law. It is incredibly disappointing, especially as the FA has been a long term and vocal supporter of our Rainbow Laces campaign advocating for inclusion in sport for all ages and at all levels of the game.
"This is widely acknowledged to be an incredibly complicated ruling and its wide-ranging impact is still being worked through by the legal fraternity. All organisations should be waiting to see how and in what way statutory guidance is changed, before making any changes to their policies.
"Trans women young and old who love football will be deeply distressed that they are no longer able to take part in games, at all levels. Trans people remain protected under the law and need to be treated with dignity and respect - and this announcement lacks any detail on how those obligations will be honoured. Hasty decisions, without a full understanding of the practical implications and before any changes to guidance have gone through the necessary consultation and parliamentary process, isn’t the answer." [Post edited 1 May 20:10]
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:12 - May 1 with 863 views | _clive_baker_ |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:18 - May 1 by Durovigutum |
There are reportedly 20 registered trans women playing in women’s football. This season I refereed a game involving one of them. She (they?) was one of the smaller players on the pitch and had no physical size advantage. She was one of the quicker players but had a very inconsistent ability with ball control, first touch being quite heavy at times and passing range being fairly poor. I didn’t realise she was trans until towards the end of the game following a comment from a team mate and then a conversation on the side line. It saddens me that she won’t be able to play next season - my motivation to referee is that people can play and (hopefully) enjoy football.
The problem is I can see the opportunity for “mischief” from those motivated to do so - as in the USA where someone not quite good enough declares themself trans just to win competitions at the behest of genetic women.
It’s also being missed in the commentary that we still don’t have a professional player who has come out as gay? Is it a surprise the trans element is causing controversy? |
Good post.
I can see the mischief problem as well, and that would be a real shame and something that would need addressing. Surely that could be managed in a more nuanced way that still allows others to participate. I'm not sure it need be so binary as this solution that robs all trans women of a league to participate in just to prevent an eventuality might arise in the future.
If trans women have such a big advantage over their counterparts who were born female it does beg the question why none of them are currently playing at either a professional or semi professional level in the women's game.
It is a complex issue though and not a straight forward one to solve. |  | | |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:15 - May 1 with 858 views | Swansea_Blue |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:13 - May 1 by Herbivore |
You don't think trans men, who are now considered to be women, who have been undergoing a transition that involves taking testosterone would have a physical advantage over cis women? The supreme court ruling opens the door for trans men to potentially participate in women only sports and to access women only spaces. |
Everyone’s been focussed on trans women and where they go to pee (because that’s not creepy!). I don’t think many people have thought through what this means for trans men. I wonder how women feel about men now being given a free pass to the ladies bogs (how are they going to tell the difference between trans men and men?). How does a trans man feel about having to go to the ladies when they look very much like a bloke?
A can of worms buh.
Anyway, that’s a bit away from football. Thankfully I haven’t seen any of the culture war nonsense spilling over into football (but I’m sure it has somewhere). | |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:45 - May 1 with 813 views | DJR |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:04 - May 1 by DJR |
The World Service had an interview with a trans woman and the coach of her team which has three trans players. They will no longer be able to play for the team which struck me as very sad, especially with the support and friendship being a member of a team entails, something the trans woman thought especially important.
Of course, there is clearly a case for the exclusion of trans women in elite sport, but this is a grassroots team.
As it is, the FA appear to have rather rushed things given the following which sets out the terms of the rather insensitive email sent to trans people.
https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/fa-tells-trans-players-referees-coaches-get-t
"Banned trans footballers told to become referees or coaches - or get therapy
An email sent to the 20 registered players offered six free therapy sessions"
This is Stonewall's take with which I agree.
"The FA and Scottish FA’s decision to ban trans women from women’s football has been made too soon, before the implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling has been worked through by lawyers and politicians or become law. It is incredibly disappointing, especially as the FA has been a long term and vocal supporter of our Rainbow Laces campaign advocating for inclusion in sport for all ages and at all levels of the game.
"This is widely acknowledged to be an incredibly complicated ruling and its wide-ranging impact is still being worked through by the legal fraternity. All organisations should be waiting to see how and in what way statutory guidance is changed, before making any changes to their policies.
"Trans women young and old who love football will be deeply distressed that they are no longer able to take part in games, at all levels. Trans people remain protected under the law and need to be treated with dignity and respect - and this announcement lacks any detail on how those obligations will be honoured. Hasty decisions, without a full understanding of the practical implications and before any changes to guidance have gone through the necessary consultation and parliamentary process, isn’t the answer." [Post edited 1 May 20:10]
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As if to prove the point about not rushing thing, here is an extract from an email I have just received from my union about the Supreme Court judgment.
"Following the UK Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers, we understand that members and branches may have questions about the judgment, what it means for them, and their workplaces. We recognise there will be uncertainty as the implications of the judgment are worked through. We have received requests to publish a response to the ruling and so have given careful consideration to this issue and sought external legal advice.
We have spoken with our legal advisers who recommended resisting establishing a union view on the judgment until we are able to make an informed assessment on the many outstanding questions posed by the ruling. We anticipate clarifications provided by the full updated EHRC code of practice will enable us to do this. It will take time for us to consider thoroughly the implications of the judgment which runs to 88 pages. To pre-empt the guidance and attempt to reach agreement on a union policy or a position we put to employers could put us in a situation of potentially having to backtrack once the EHRC guidance is issued in a matter of two months’ time. This would place us in a position of unnecessary risk and undermine our ability to negotiate new or revised policies on behalf of our members. Once we have the EHRC guidance we will be able to review our own union policies and employer guidance to ensure they enable us to continue effectively representing our members. This position has been endorsed by the FDA Executive Committee." [Post edited 1 May 20:48]
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:54 - May 1 with 794 views | Hugoagogo_Reborn |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:45 - May 1 by DJR |
As if to prove the point about not rushing thing, here is an extract from an email I have just received from my union about the Supreme Court judgment.
"Following the UK Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers, we understand that members and branches may have questions about the judgment, what it means for them, and their workplaces. We recognise there will be uncertainty as the implications of the judgment are worked through. We have received requests to publish a response to the ruling and so have given careful consideration to this issue and sought external legal advice.
We have spoken with our legal advisers who recommended resisting establishing a union view on the judgment until we are able to make an informed assessment on the many outstanding questions posed by the ruling. We anticipate clarifications provided by the full updated EHRC code of practice will enable us to do this. It will take time for us to consider thoroughly the implications of the judgment which runs to 88 pages. To pre-empt the guidance and attempt to reach agreement on a union policy or a position we put to employers could put us in a situation of potentially having to backtrack once the EHRC guidance is issued in a matter of two months’ time. This would place us in a position of unnecessary risk and undermine our ability to negotiate new or revised policies on behalf of our members. Once we have the EHRC guidance we will be able to review our own union policies and employer guidance to ensure they enable us to continue effectively representing our members. This position has been endorsed by the FDA Executive Committee." [Post edited 1 May 20:48]
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Something I genuinely have wondered: why is the trans argument mainly about trans women, and not trans men?
Not just about sport here, more about the general issue. |  | | |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:55 - May 1 with 794 views | SuperBlue1998 |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 19:58 - May 1 by Trequartista |
It is sad, and I wouldn't be shocked if all 20-30 trans women have no advantage at all.
But when you make choices in life you sometimes have to make sacrifices. You have rights, the right to not be discriminated against however you define yourself. But you can't demand things that trample on other people's rights. The "opportunity for mischief" has been taken in many sports now. |
As a gay person myself I really hate the use of the word "choice" here. It's not a choice to be gay, it's not a choice to be trans. Growing up I wish it had been a choice as I would have chosen otherwise - now I wouldn't say that, but it illustrates a point. The starting point for an empathetic discussion about trans people is dispelling this myth of "choice" |  | | |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:01 - May 1 with 772 views | Hugoagogo_Reborn |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:55 - May 1 by SuperBlue1998 |
As a gay person myself I really hate the use of the word "choice" here. It's not a choice to be gay, it's not a choice to be trans. Growing up I wish it had been a choice as I would have chosen otherwise - now I wouldn't say that, but it illustrates a point. The starting point for an empathetic discussion about trans people is dispelling this myth of "choice" |
I do have sympathy for those who feel they were born in the wrong body. I had a couple of years in my adolescence where I was unsure, but it resolved naturally for me.
I just feel that psychological help should be the first port of call, and the co-morbidity with neurodivergance should not be overlooked.
It could save a lot of people from unnecessary suffering. | | | |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:07 - May 1 with 730 views | DJR |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:55 - May 1 by SuperBlue1998 |
As a gay person myself I really hate the use of the word "choice" here. It's not a choice to be gay, it's not a choice to be trans. Growing up I wish it had been a choice as I would have chosen otherwise - now I wouldn't say that, but it illustrates a point. The starting point for an empathetic discussion about trans people is dispelling this myth of "choice" |
Excellent post. | | | |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:08 - May 1 with 728 views | Herbivore |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 20:15 - May 1 by Swansea_Blue |
Everyone’s been focussed on trans women and where they go to pee (because that’s not creepy!). I don’t think many people have thought through what this means for trans men. I wonder how women feel about men now being given a free pass to the ladies bogs (how are they going to tell the difference between trans men and men?). How does a trans man feel about having to go to the ladies when they look very much like a bloke?
A can of worms buh.
Anyway, that’s a bit away from football. Thankfully I haven’t seen any of the culture war nonsense spilling over into football (but I’m sure it has somewhere). |
I think for all of the talk about how the ruling brings much needed clarity, I'm not convinced it does. As you say, the focus is all on trans women but this has implications for trans men too, as they are now entitled to sex based protections as women under the Equality Act. Hopefully this won't be tested but in principle there is nothing to stop fully transitioned trans men with beards and penises claiming they have a right to access women only spaces.
If that happens and we want to say they shouldn't be allowed, what's the basis for that if "man" and "woman" is defined so narrowly as biological sex? Stop them from accessing those spaces and you're infringing their sex based rights and you risk discriminating against them for being trans too. It's a muddle. All of the people who scoffed when people struggled to give a yes or no answer to the question of whether a woman could have a penis don't seem to realise that the ruling means that trans men with penises are, for the purposes of the Equality Act, women. | |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:15 - May 1 with 707 views | SuperBlue1998 |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:01 - May 1 by Hugoagogo_Reborn |
I do have sympathy for those who feel they were born in the wrong body. I had a couple of years in my adolescence where I was unsure, but it resolved naturally for me.
I just feel that psychological help should be the first port of call, and the co-morbidity with neurodivergance should not be overlooked.
It could save a lot of people from unnecessary suffering. |
You're moving to a different area of discussion here - which I do disagree with you on, but I don't think it's what the original post related to. You said "you make choices in life". I think that's a really damaging framing in this area | | | |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:19 - May 1 with 693 views | Herbivore |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:15 - May 1 by SuperBlue1998 |
You're moving to a different area of discussion here - which I do disagree with you on, but I don't think it's what the original post related to. You said "you make choices in life". I think that's a really damaging framing in this area |
Indeed, rather harks back to attempting to convert gay people to being straight on the basis they'd made a lifestyle choice to be gay rather than it just being who they are. | |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:23 - May 1 with 682 views | SuperBlue1998 |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:19 - May 1 by Herbivore |
Indeed, rather harks back to attempting to convert gay people to being straight on the basis they'd made a lifestyle choice to be gay rather than it just being who they are. |
Yes, I think so. And also in terms how being gay was often treated as a mental health issue or something which correlated with mental health issues. This is now widely accepted as having been wrong then, and it's wrong with trans people now | | | |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:24 - May 1 with 678 views | _clive_baker_ |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:15 - May 1 by SuperBlue1998 |
You're moving to a different area of discussion here - which I do disagree with you on, but I don't think it's what the original post related to. You said "you make choices in life". I think that's a really damaging framing in this area |
That was a different poster tbf | | | |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:24 - May 1 with 677 views | textbackup |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 18:45 - May 1 by Herbivore |
The tyranny of the majority. |
Good job you added that ‘y’ in where you did. |  |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:26 - May 1 with 665 views | SuperBlue1998 |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:24 - May 1 by _clive_baker_ |
That was a different poster tbf |
Apologies to both people involved - you're right | | | |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:27 - May 1 with 655 views | J2BLUE |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:24 - May 1 by textbackup |
Good job you added that ‘y’ in where you did. |
Who are the majorit? |  |
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| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:58 - May 1 with 604 views | Herbivore |
| The FA have banned trans women from women’s football on 21:23 - May 1 by SuperBlue1998 |
Yes, I think so. And also in terms how being gay was often treated as a mental health issue or something which correlated with mental health issues. This is now widely accepted as having been wrong then, and it's wrong with trans people now |
I hadn't seen your previous post about your own experience, thank you for sharing that. My thoughts largely align with yours I suspect. Some people seem to think trans people are some new modern "woke" fad but trans people exist all over the world and have existed for a very, very, very long time. They are more visible now because they had started to gain a modicum of social acceptance, not much but some crumbs of being seen as belonging in mainstream society. Sadly, much is being done to erode that currently and it's quite upsetting, especially if you actually know trans people. | |
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