Play Brightcove video The FA has U-turned on its transgender inclusion policy. ITV News Sports Editor Steve Scott reports from Wembley Stadium The Football Association has changed its longstanding inclusion policy on trans women footballers and will ban them from playing in the women’s game in England from June. The U-turn comes after legal advice following the recent Supreme Court judgment, which ruled that a woman is legally defined solely by her biological sex.

Up until now, the FA has resisted pressure from campaigners and ministers and continued to allow trans women to play in women’s teams on a case-by-case basis. The criteria required players to reduce their testosterone levels, although the FA retained the right to ban anyone on the grounds of safety or fairness. In a statement, the FA said: ''This is a complex subject, and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science, or the operation of the policy in grassroots football, then we would review it and change it if necessary.

''The Supreme Court’s ruling on 16 April means that we will be changing our policy. Transgender women will no longer be able to play in women’s football in England, and this policy will be implemented from 1 June 2025. ''We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify, and we are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game."

The Scottish FA has also announced it will bar transgender women from playing competitive football from next season. The FA says among the 10-plus million who play recreational or grassroots football in England, only 20 transgender players are registered. There are no trans women in the professional game.

It adjusted its policy only a few weeks ago, introducing marginally stricter eligibility rules, but those changes have now been superseded. ITV News has seen an email sent by the FA to transgender footballers, offering to pay for up to six therapy sessions, and highlighting ways to stay involved in the game, including coaching or acting as a match official. One transgender player who received a phone call from the FA, was assured the ban was not ''ideological.''

Last week, Britain’s best known trans sportswoman, the former cyclist Emily Bridges, told ITV News that she hoped the FA stuck to its policy despite the ruling: ”I think it’s very important, especially in football because it’s the British sport….it’s the only kind of place that trans people have left.” The FA is the latest sports governing body to board a train that is only travelling in one direction, now accelerated by the ruling in the Supreme Court. Swimming, cycling and athletics to name only a few were ahead of the curve and introduced a ban on transwoman at elite level before the Supreme Court announced its decision. But given football’s popularity and its place as the number one sport in terms of participation in England, Thursday’s decision takes on an even greater significance.

Natalie Washington underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2017 and says she feels unable to compete against men. Credit: ITV News Natalie Washington, a transgender woman who has played grassroots football in Hampshire since 2017, told ITV News that the FA’s decision would likely see her give up the game. "I play for this team because it feels like it's somewhere I feel understood, safe and included," she said.

‘‘I have played in men's teams where I did not feel that way. I do not think I would still be playing football now if it were not for being understood and seen. "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." Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

Washington underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2017 and says she feels unable to compete against men "I'd have no chance physically, that would make it very difficult, and that is just factoring in fair competition," she added. "I would feel very worried about violence and abuse and harassment which we know that happens in the men's game, it is impossible to be a trans women paying in men's sport without immediately out-ing yourself and announcing to yourself I am trans, and unfortunately and increasing at the moment, that makes people a target, so I don't know how safe I would be playing in men's football." Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns for Sex Matters, said the ruling was ''welcome but long overdue.''

''The FA has had ample evidence of the harms to women and girls caused by its nonsensical policy of letting men who identify as women play in women’s teams. The requirement to lower their testosterone tells you that everyone knew they were not women.'' "Thankfully, the UK Supreme Court has now confirmed this, saying it is lawful to exclude ‘all men, including trans women, regardless of their GRC status.''

"Every other sporting body now needs to re-establish a genuine women’s category, and this shameful period in history will finally be brought to an end." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…