The Scottish Football Association has announced a ban on transgender women competing in women's football from next season, in a significant policy shift for the sport.
The decision, approved at a recent board meeting, follows the Supreme Court's landmark ruling that defined "woman" as referring to biological sex under the Equality Act.
From the 2025/26 season, only those born biologically female will be permitted to participate in competitive women's football matches across Scotland.
The new policy will apply to all competitive football in Scotland, from under-13 grassroots level to the professional leagues and national team.
Scotland FA have banned transgender football players from the women's game
Reuters
This comprehensive ban represents a significant departure from the current approach, which allows transgender women to compete on a case-by-case basis.
The SFA's decision brings football into alignment with several other sports that have implemented similar restrictions in recent years.
Under the current policy, transgender women can compete in their affirmed gender category after individual assessment, with testosterone levels taken into account.
The revised policy was given the go-ahead after discussions that had been ongoing for some time, with the final decision influenced by the recent Supreme Court ruling.
The SFA's move mirrors similar decisions in other sports, including Scottish Rugby's policy change in 2023.
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The Supreme Court's ruling clarified that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act "refer to a biological woman and biological sex".
This landmark decision has had immediate implications for sporting bodies across the UK.
The ruling specifically addressed Section 195 of the Equality Act, which provides an exemption allowing competitors to be excluded from a "gender-affected" sport based on their sex.
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Lord Triesman has called for the English FA to follow Scotland's lead
PA
The court stated this provision "is plainly predicated on biological sex".
In England, the Football Association maintains a different approach, allowing transgender women to compete if they demonstrate sufficiently low testosterone levels.
The FA currently has approximately 20 transgender women registered to play amateur football in England among millions of participants.
Former FA chair Lord Triesman has called for the English FA to follow Scotland's lead, stating that "similar clarity from the FA is long overdue" and describing the Scottish FA as "often ahead in its thinking".
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The changes to the SFA policy will take effect from next season at the latest, though could be implemented sooner.
Lawyers are currently updating the rules to reflect the board's decision.
Transgender women will still have options to participate in football through the Scottish Unity Football League, which is committed to being open to all.
They may also choose to play in men's football competitions if they wish to continue in the sport.
