England sports governing body bans transgender athletes from women’s soccer following UK court ruling
FOX NewsAPR 19
England Bans Trans Athletes From Women's Football
Above: Sophie Peskett of Ipswich Town and Issy Newns of Cheltenham Town battle for the ball during the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division match at The Martello Ground on April 27, 2025. Image copyright: Tom Dulat/The FA Collection via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
This ban is unjustified, unfair, and full-blown trans apartheid. It will profoundly impact transgender women who found acceptance and community in football. There remains no football-specific, peer-reviewed research showing the existing policies constituted a safety risk. Yet, these players now lose not just their place in football but the mental and physical health benefits of team sports.
Right narrative
This decision is welcome but long overdue. The FA has had ample evidence of the harm to women and girls caused by its nonsensical policy of letting biological males who identify as women play in women's teams. Every sport must follow suit to ensure safety and fairness for all girls and women in sports. This ruling ends a shameful period in sport where women's rights to fair competition were compromised.