The sport's governing body said on Thursday that trans women's soccer teams will be banned from playing in England's women's soccer teams after the UK Supreme Court's ruling.
The Football Association (FA) said it has decided to change its rules to allow trans athletes to play on women's soccer teams if they lower testosterone levels. The Scottish Football Association made a similar decision last week.
The UK's Supreme Court issued a ruling two weeks ago that defined women as anti-discriminatory purposes, for biological women. The head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said after the ruling that trans women will be excluded from women's restrooms, hospital wards and sports teams.
While the ruling was cheered by some feminists, the inter-rights groups condemned the ruling, who said it would have a wide and harmful effect on daily life.
The FA said its policy is to make the sport as many people as possible accept, but it will change if the operation of law, science or “grassroots football” changes.
“It will be difficult for those who just want to play their favorite games in the gender they identify, and we are connecting with registered trans women currently playing to explain these changes and how they can continue to participate in the game,” the FA said in a statement.
It is not clear how many players the policy that will take effect on June 1 will affect.
Transgender people in the United States say they fear that after President Donald Trump signed an executive order, his administration only recognizes two genders assigned at birth.
