Scottish FA bans trans women from playing in women's competitive football

The Scottish FA is to ban transgender women from playing in women’s competitive football.

The new policy will mean that only those born biologically female will be permitted to play in any game under the governing body’s rules, which run from the grassroots at under-13 level to the top of the professional league and the national team.

Hampden bosses had been discussing updating their gender policy for some time but the new approach was approved at a board meeting last week.

The current SFA rule says simply: “In any match played under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA, other than the exception permitted in Article 20.2, all of the participating players shall be of the same gender.”

The decision comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act “refer to a biological woman and biological sex”.

The existing policy in Scottish football allows transgender women to play in competitive matches in women’s football after being assessed on a case-by-case basis, with testosterone level being taken into account in decision-making.

It’s understood that the rule change will apply from next season at the latest but could come into effect sooner.

There are currently no transgender women registered to play in competitive women’s football north of the border.

The Scottish FA’s decision follows similar decisions in other sports. In 2023, Scottish Rugby amended its transgender policy along similar lines.

LGBTIQ+ sports charity LEAP, and Football v Homophobia issued a joint response on social media.

“LEAP Sports Scotland and the FvH Scotland team are shocked, enraged and heartbroken by today’s news that the SFA plans to ban trans women from playing in Scottish football,” a post read.

“This policy is in contradiction to the engagement that we have long had with the SFA. We have already communicated our opposition to the SFA and will continue to challenge them on what is clearly a reactionary response to the Supreme Court ruling. We are also urgently exploring further action.

“We have not seen the details of the proposed policy. However, we understand that the policy will not apply outside of the jurisdiction of SFA regulated leagues.

“The trans-inclusionary grassroots teams, tournaments and leagues that we know and love will continue to be a celebration of what football should be.”

However, Alison Weir of For Women Scotland welcomed the decision.

“This is fantastic news for women and girls in Scotland,” Weir said. “The Scottish Football Association is leading the world in ensuring fair and safe sport for its female players from grass roots through to international level. We applaud this policy change and hope that the remaining home nations and FIFA swiftly follow suit.

“When we talk about inclusivity, it is often forgotten that when a trans-identifying male is included within a women’s team, a female player loses her place in the team. This decision ensures equal opportunity to fair sport for female players.”

Fiona McAnena of Sex Matters echoed those comments, saying: “We’ve always said everyone has human rights and everyone’s rights matter.

“Sometimes we have to pay attention to whether people are male or female because it really matters. We’ll continue to promote a recognition that it’s not unkind and it’s not unreasonable to be honest about peoples’ sex in those situations and spaces and services in sport where it really matters.

Leading transgender player Jasmine Angove is directly affected by the ruling and says her opportunity to play has been taken away.

Angove, who is the co-founder of recreational football team Gender Goals FC, also plays at a higher level and was with Edinburgh Uni Thistle in SWFL East last season, the fifth tier of women’s football in Scotland.

She would have been registered this season but for a serious knee injury that had kept her out of action.

“Unfortunately for me, it does feel personal,” Angove told STV.

“I love playing grassroots football and inclusive football but I also like playing at a more competitive level.

“I like being challenged and with these girls that we play with and against I am not the strongest, I’m not the tallest, I’m not the fastest and I’m not the best.

“But I love to play with them and we have a great bond. I’ve spoken to the club today and they are all supporting me and are shocked and saddened as well.”