‘Fairness and Safety’: Football Association Faces Protest Over Transgender Policy

By: Michael Neal
November 20, 2024
Protest opposing the Football Association
TheBigLead.com is learning that a protest opposing the Football Association’s (FA) transgender inclusion policy recently took place outside Wembley prior to the England men’s match against the Republic of Ireland. The protest was prompted by the FA’s decision to ban a 17-year-old female soccer player for asking a transgender opponent if they were a biological male during a previous match.

In this slideshow, we take a deeper look into the protest.

Comments constituted discrimination
The FA ruled that the comments constituted discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 and implemented a six-match ban. Protesters argued that allowing transgender women in women’s sports poses safety and fairness issues, with banners stating “no men in women’s sport.”
Basic fairness and safety issues
One protester stated, “It’s a basic fairness and safety issue. This is a contact sport and those male players that have been through male puberty, they’ve got physical advantage. It’s not just the unfairness of a biologically male player taking the spot that would’ve been taken by a female player otherwise.”
Allowing transgender women to compete
Former FA chairman Lord Triesman criticized the FA’s handling of the case, recalling past discussions on the competitive disadvantages of allowing transgender women to compete against biological women.
There was discussion
Triesman stated, “On one occasion, and at my instigation, there was discussion about whether people who were born men should play post-puberty against people who were born women.”
The issue was straightforward
Triesman said, “In my day, the issue was straightforward. It was clear that it tended to produce an unfair competition and a very significant number of serious injuries. It led us to banning those kinds of competitions because of those reasons – no other reasons.”
Treated in a shabby way
Triesman added, “I say with regret: shame on the Lancashire County Football Association, backed up by the FA itself. She seems to me to have been treated in a shabby way, and I do not intend to let it rest.”
Policy aims to promote inclusion
The FA maintains that its transgender policy aims to promote inclusion while balancing safety and fairness. The policy allows transgender women aged 16 and older to participate in women’s soccer under specific conditions.
Support the FA's current policy
Despite the controversy, campaign groups like Football v Transphobia support the FA’s current policy, emphasizing the importance of inclusion for transgender individuals in sports.