Transgender Women Banned from Women's Football in Scotland

Strategic Insights -

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) is updating its rules to prohibit transgender women from playing in the female game following the Supreme Court ruling on single-sex spaces. The move has piled pressure on the Football Association (FA) in England to follow suit, with former FA chair Lord Triesman saying the clarity from the SFA is "long overdue." The SFA has wasted little time acting on the Supreme Court verdict, and its board has met to discuss imposing a blanket ban on trans women in its female-only competitions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Scottish Football Association (SFA) is updating its rules to ban transgender women from playing in the female game following the Supreme Court ruling.
  • The SFA's board has met to discuss imposing a blanket ban on trans women in its female-only competitions.
  • The Football Association (FA) in England is taking legal advice on the implications of the Supreme Court decision and is likely to follow the SFA's lead.
  • Former FA chair Lord Triesman has called for the heads of sport governing bodies to resign, saying they have broken the law by allowing trans women to compete in women's sports.
  • Trans women will still be able to play in the Scottish Unity Football League or in men's football if they choose to do so.
  • There are currently no registered trans players in Scottish football, although goalkeeper Blair Hamilton has played in the country.
  • The FA's existing policy allows around 20 trans women to continue playing amateur football in England if their testosterone levels are below 5 nanomoles per litre for at least 12 months.
  • Cricket has already banned trans women who have gone through male puberty from elite matches, but trans women are eligible to play in tier three of the domestic structure.
  • The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association has confirmed its policy will be reviewed following the clarification on the meaning of the Equality Act.

Statistics:

  • 20: The number of trans women registered to play amateur football in England who can continue playing under the FA's existing policy.
  • 5 nmol/L: The threshold for testosterone levels below which trans women can continue playing in England's amateur football league.
  • 12 months: The minimum period for which trans women must have their testosterone levels below 5 nmol/L to continue playing in England's amateur football league.
  • 10 nmol/L: The threshold for testosterone levels below which trans women can compete in professional snooker.
  • 88: The number of pages in the Supreme Court ruling.
  • 2 weeks: The time period since the Supreme Court clarification that has sparked calls for sport governing bodies to revisit their transgender policies.

Sources:

  • The Telegraph
  • Reuters
  • World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
  • The Scottish Football Association
  • The Football Association
  • Lord Triesman
  • Sharron Davies
  • Sex Matters