Players must acknowledge that they are a “biological female” and “have a greater risk of injury when playing against adult biological men,” according to the updated requirements from the Football Association.
Following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on April 16 that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, the FA changed its rules earlier this year.
Trans men are still permitted to play in men’s matches despite the FA-affiliated competitions’ ban on transgender women since June 1st.
A player declaration section on the form, which must be completed by all trans men who want to compete in FA competitions in the 2025-26 season, states that they are a biological female who wants to enter open age competitions and events that are reserved for men.
Players must also agree that “adult biological females and adult biological males have physiological and performance differences,” according to the declaration.
Adult biological females play more dangerously when playing against adult biological males than when playing against adult biological females, and my treatment does not fully negate these differences and lead to higher safety risks.
Additionally, testosterone levels must be between 7.7 and 29.4 nanomoles per litre of blood, which is considered to be in the normal adult male range.
The FA’s updated transgender policy, which was written in collaboration with the organization’s legal team, was informed to the BBC that any changes to language were a result of the Supreme Court’s decision.
The FA stated in May that the policy change was necessary in response to the ruling, not as a result of ideological bias.
Before, the FA used a different form with different languages to allow trans players to register to play football in their preferred gender category.
Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, the previous policy stated that players would “agree and accept the potential increased injury risk associated with female-to-male transgender individuals” and that they would be playing alongside those who “are statistically most likely to be stronger, faster, and heavier.”
One transgender footballer who has played men’s football at amateur level detested the language used by the FA in the new guidelines.
The player, who requested anonymity, told BBC Sport, “I am not a biological woman, I am a man.”
It seems like a ban on the sly because I have a hard time believing that many trans men would agree to sign documents that contain that language.
The FA confirmed that trans men could only play male football if the statement was signed by the player and a qualified medical professional following a thorough evaluation and consultation.
Only biological females (i.e. those with ovaries) may participate in open age competitions and matches that are not open to women, according to the report.
Additionally, they assert that they will “keep the policy under review in accordance with any relevant legal, scientific, or other developments.”
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in April 2025, an FA spokesperson told the BBC: “We published our updated transgender policy last month to make sure both the FA and our local County FA network could operate within this new legal framework.”
To allow transgender players to continue playing football, we continue to support transgender players who meet the requirements of our new policy.
The FA contacted all trans players who were impacted by the change in policy after it was made public and provided talking therapy through the Sporting Chance clinic.
They added that they planned to start creating mixed gender leagues by the 2026-27 season and that those who can’t play should continue to play as coaches and referees.
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Source: BBC
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