England's football governing body will ban transgender women from playing in women’s football starting June 1, 2025, following a Supreme Court ruling defining "woman" as biologically female. The Scottish Football Association will implement a similar ban in the 2025/26 season.

England’s football governing body has announced that transgender women will be prohibited from participating in women’s football starting June 1, 2025.

In an official statement, the Football Association (FA) confirmed, “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.”

The FA acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, describing it as “a complex subject.” The organization emphasized that it has consistently maintained the position that, should there be any “material change in law, science, or the operation of the policy in grassroots football,” it would revisit and revise its policies as necessary.

“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,” the FA added. “We are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game.”

This announcement comes in the wake of a significant legal ruling. On April 16, the UK Supreme Court declared that, under British equality law, the term “woman” refers to someone who is biologically female at birth.

Supreme Court Justice Patrick Hodge stated, “The terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman,” with all five justices delivering a unanimous decision.

Following this legal precedent, the Scottish Football Association also announced on Thursday that it will implement a similar ban, which will take effect with the start of its 2025/26 season.

The revised regulations will affect all levels of women’s football—both amateur and professional—in England and Scotland.