Trans women will be banned from playing women’s football in Scotland and England as of next season. The football associations of both countries announced their decisions on Wednesday, April 30, and Thursday, May 1, respectively, following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of ‘woman’.

Until now, Scotland allowed trans women to compete in their preferred gender category on a case-by-case basis and with testosterone levels taken into account. The new policy applies to all competitive sectors of the sport, including grassroots from under-13s and over, although it is understood that there are currently no transgender players participating.

According to the BBC, the updates were given the go-ahead at a recent Scottish Football Association (SFA) board meeting, with conversations about the subject having been ongoing for some time. The final decision was made after the UK Supreme Court ruled against the Scottish government and in favour of legally defining a ‘woman’ by biological sex.

Similarly in England, trans women were allowed to compete if their testosterone levels met a certain requirement and they were assessed by a match observer. Now, the Football Association (FA) has issued a blanket ban on trans women participating, with the new policy coming into effect on June 1, 2025. 

According to the FA, 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.”

Speaking to ITV News, trans woman Natalie Washington said that the new policy will likely see her give up football.

“I’m in a semi-rural area, there are no inclusive teams, specific LGBT teams or anything like that, there is only the competitive men’s game and the competitive women’s game, and you can only play in one. And if I’m not eligible in one and I’m not safe in the other, then that is probably it for me in terms of playing,” she said.