After England and Scotland announced bans on trans women from competitive football, it has been confirmed that players in Ireland will continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. A spokesperson for the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) reaffirmed the governing body’s position in a statement to RTÉ Sport, shared on Friday, May 2.
While trans women are not allowed to play football in the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division due to UEFA and FIFA directives, they are allowed to play at amateur and grassroots levels. While the FAI has stated it has no immediate plans to follow the new policies of England and Scotland, it warned that a review by the global governing body may force changes.
“The FAI continues to consult with relevant stakeholders on the policy around gender eligibility,” it told RTÉ.
“FIFA is undertaking its own comprehensive review which may influence the development of the FAI’s policy.
“Currently, any query on the eligibility of a player is dealt with on a player-by-player basis, with a clear commitment to assessing all relevant factors in a reasonable and proportionate way,” the organisation concluded.
Across the pond, the Scottish FA announced on Wednesday, April 30, that trans women would no longer be allowed to play in their preferred gender category. The new policy applies to all competitive levels of the sport, including grassroots from under-13s and over, although it is understood that there are currently no transgender players participating.
The English FA similarly issued a blanket ban on trans women participating, with the new policy coming into effect on June 1, 2025. According to the association, there are 20 transgender players registered in England, none of whom are at a professional level. The governing body said that it is contacting those affected “to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game.”
Both policy changes came after the recent Supreme Court ruling in the UK, which declared the legal definition of ‘woman’ refers to biological sex.
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