Transgender women will no longer be permitted to play on women’s soccer teams in England, the Football Association (FA) announced Thursday.
The decision follows a recent ruling by the U.K. Supreme Court, which legally defined “woman” as someone assigned female at birth for the purposes of anti-discrimination laws.
Previously, transgender athletes were allowed to compete in women’s teams if they met specific testosterone requirements. However, the FA said it would update its rules to reflect the legal and scientific landscape. A similar move was made by the Scottish Football Association last week.
The Supreme Court’s decision has sparked controversy, drawing support from some feminist groups and strong criticism from trans-rights advocates, who argue the ruling could negatively impact access to public services and participation in everyday life.
The new policy is set to take effect on June 1, though the FA did not specify how many players would be impacted.
