The Football Association (FA) in the United Kingdom now requires transgender-identifying women to declare themselves as “biological females” and acknowledge the higher risk of injury when participating in men’s football. The UK Football Transgender Rules policy aligns with a recent U.K. Supreme Court ruling that legally defines “woman” based on biological sex.
Under the new rules, which took effect in June 2024, transgender individuals identifying as male or non-binary must sign a declaration to compete in open-age men’s football for the 2024-2026 seasons. The declaration requires players to affirm their biological sex as female and acknowledge the physical risks posed by competing against biological males.
The FA’s form states that “adult biological females have a greater risk of injury when playing against adult biological males,” and that medical treatments such as testosterone will not fully eliminate these risks. The policy further mandates that trans-identifying players maintain testosterone levels within the typical adult male range of 7.7 to 29.4 nanomoles per liter of blood.
While the FA has banned transgender-identifying men from women’s football since June, it has allowed trans-identifying women in men’s matches under strict conditions. The organization told the BBC that its updated policy was not driven by ideology but by the Supreme Court’s clarification on sex-based definitions.
Before the court ruling, the FA already noted potential injury risks for transgender players, stating that they may face stronger, faster, and heavier opponents. Now, the updated form makes this recognition mandatory.
A transgender player who spoke to the BBC expressed frustration, calling the policy a covert ban. “I am not a biological female, I am a man,” the player said, adding that few trans men would agree to the wording required by the FA.
