A 17-year-old girl footballer has been handed a six-match ban after asking if a bearded transgender opponent was a man during a pre-season friendly match.
The teenager was found guilty of "discrimination" by a National Serious Case Panel following the July incident, which occurred during a match against a trans-inclusive club.
Two matches of the ban will be served immediately, with four matches suspended for 12 months.
The girl, who wept during the three-hour disciplinary hearing, had faced charges from her county FA for allegedly saying "Are you a man?", "That's a man", and "Don't come here again".
The case has sparked fresh debate about the Football Association's policy of allowing those born male to play in the women's game.
The disciplinary hearing, conducted via video conference, saw the teenager questioned for approximately 30 minutes, during which she became visibly emotional.
One observer described the proceedings as "farcical", noting that panel members repeatedly "misgendered" the alleged victim as "he".
The girl was repeatedly asked about the number of LGBTQ+ players in her team, according to those present at the hearing.
The case was initiated after the opposition club filed a complaint through Kick It Out, English football's anti-discrimination watchdog.
The complaint included testimony from both the transgender player and the team's captain, who accused the teenager of persistent transphobia.
The referee, however, reportedly heard nothing during the match that he considered discriminatory.
In her written defence statement, the girl explained she had become confused during the match as the transgender player "wore jewellery and sunglasses" and was not wearing opposition kit.
The 17-year-old has been handed a six-match ban, with four games suspended
Reuters
"The moment the player clarified they were transgender, I respected their answer fully, dropped the situation and immediately shifted my focus back to the game," she stated.
The teenager expressed concern about physical safety, noting she was "a 17-year-old girl playing against a biological male who was much larger than me and a very physical player".
She had approached the referee for guidance about the player's eligibility after experiencing "overly physical challenges".
The girl stressed her support for diversity, stating: "I have always supported and respected the diversity within my team, including members who are in the LGBTQIA+ community."
The girl's mother expressed outrage at the FA's handling of the case, telling The Telegraph: "We've always taught our daughter to ask questions, and if she doesn't feel comfortable or she doesn't feel safe then she should go to somebody in charge and ask the question."
"The FA is essentially saying that no woman, when faced with what appears to be a male on the pitch, is entitled to ask a question," she added.
The case emerges amid ongoing debate about the FA's transgender policy, which continues to permit players born male to compete in female-only events.
Former Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer had previously urged the FA to adopt an "unambiguous position" of a ban.
The proceedings were branded 'farcical'
PA
The FA's current policy requires blood testosterone levels to be within specified ranges, with hormone treatment verified annually.
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at Sex Matters, called it a "disastrous policy", saying it makes "a mockery of the game".
