#Football Association

[thewales-family]

The Prince of Wales visits an FA Referee Training Course At Sporting Khalsa FC, as part of the Football Association's Reflective and Representative campaign to recruit 1,000 people from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds into refereeing roles, at Aspray Arena in Willenhall, England -March 11th 2025.

[justinssportscorner]

John Russell at LGBTQ Nation (05.02.2025):

The Football Association (FA), the governing body for soccer in England, says transgender players will no longer be allowed to play on women’s teams beginning next month. In a Thursday, May 1, announcement, the FA said that following the U.K. Supreme Court’s recent unanimous ruling that trans women are not women under the law, it is changing its official policy which previously allowed trans women to compete on women’s teams. As CNN notes, the change comes just weeks after the FA updated its policy to allow trans women who met certain requirements to play. “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 statement read. “The Supreme Court’s ruling on the 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.” According to CNN, the ban applies to all levels of women’s soccer in England and will impact around 20 transgender players competing at the amateur level. “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 FA said in its Thursday statement.

Effective June 1st, the FA in England will ban trans women from their competitions.

See Also:

The Advocate: Supreme Court fallout: Trans women banned from soccer by UK Football Association

[coochiequeens]

"Their captain must have heard me ask, because she came up and she told me it wasn't an appropriate question, it wasn't a nice thing to say, and I needed to keep my transphobia off the pitch. I didn't understand why she was saying that." Maybe the captain should be banned for using the transphobia claim to stop the one woman brave enough to point out there was a biological man on the women's team.

By Dan Roan Sports editor @danroan

A teenage amateur footballer who was banned by the Football Association over remarks she made to a transgender woman opponent has demanded an apology from the governing body, claiming the case has "impacted" her life.

Last year, Cerys Vaughan, then aged 17, was sanctioned by an FA disciplinary commission for improper conduct after she asked the rival player if they were a man during a friendly match.

Having been told the player was transgender, Vaughan says she then raised the matter with the referee over concerns she had about fairness and safety.

Following a complaint, she was charged with a breach of FA rules, and after a hearing she was handed a six-match ban, four of which were suspended.

The case sparked a protest by women's rights campaigners outside Wembley, and scrutiny of the FA's gender eligibility policy.

However, it can now be revealed that in February, an FA appeal board found that Vaughan had received an "unfair" hearing, quashed the original ruling, and ordered a new process to take place.

The case has since been dropped after the complainant withdrew from the process.

Vaughan, now 18, has chosen to reveal her identity and in her first broadcast interview told BBC Sport: "It was stressful. It's definitely impacted my normal life a lot.

"In the end it was pointless, and there was no reason for the FA to put me through all this.

"They said I wasn't guilty anymore and they dropped my charges and cleared my record."

In a statement, the FA said: "We can confirm that this disciplinary case has now been closed, as the complainant has chosen to withdraw from the process due to personal reasons.

"All relevant parties have been informed of this outcome and no further action will be taken.

"To protect the players involved, and to respect the confidential details included, we are not in a position to publish further details about this case."

What is the background?

The case began in July 2024 when Vaughan was playing a pre-season friendly for her local women's team in Lancashire.

She said: "Just before the game kicked off I saw that one of the players [was] what I thought was a man, so I went and I asked, 'Are you a man?"

She says her opponent clarified they were transgender and asked to speak about it at the end of the match, but Vaughan then asked the referee about it.

"I assumed it would be a women's game, and that's why I was confused because I thought they'd brought a mixed team with them," said Vaughan.

"I said, 'Is this player allowed to play in the match today?'

"The ref said, 'I'm not sure, but because it's a friendly I'm going to let it slide'.

"Their captain must have heard me ask, because she came up and she told me it wasn't an appropriate question, it wasn't a nice thing to say, and I needed to keep my transphobia off the pitch. I didn't understand why she was saying that."

Vaughan says she is currently being assessed for possible autism, and that this may explain why she "wasn't afraid to ask the question".

For several years, the FA has allowed transgender women to play in women's matches if they reduce their testosterone level, insisting they have a responsibility to make the game as accessible and inclusive as possible.

However, earlier this month the FA announced it was introducing a ban from 1 June in the wake of a UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.

'Shocked' about being reported

Vaughan said days after the match she was informed by her club that she needed to provide a statement because she had been reported by a member of the opposition club, via football anti-discrimination body Kick It Out, to her local county FA.

"I was confused because I didn't think I'd done anything wrong," she said.

"I was shocked that they would report me but at that point I wasn't worried because I thought the FA would have some common sense and not go through with [it]."

But Vaughan was then charged by Lancashire FA with "using abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting words or behaviour".

It was further alleged it was an aggravated breach of FA rules because it included a reference to gender reassignment. According to documents seen by the BBC, Vaughan was alleged to have said, "that's a man", "are you a man" and "don't come here again", or similar.

Vaughan denied the charges, insisting that she did not intend to be offensive to her opponent or to challenge their chosen identity, but wanted to understand if the rules were being followed.

However, after a hearing, the disciplinary commission upheld both charges, finding that by raising the issue with the referee, Vaughan had showed a "continual action which indicated more than a casual question of curiosity."

She was banned from all football for six matches, four of which were suspended for a period of one year, and was ordered to complete an online equality and diversity course.

"I was really upset," said Vaughan. "It got put on my record that I'd been accused of misconduct, and I didn't want that to stay there, and I knew I wasn't guilty so I appealed it."

In November, with her identity remaining a secret, the matter was raised in parliament by former FA chairman Lord Triesman. He criticised the governing body's handling of the case, saying Vaughan "seems to me to have been treated in a shabby way", and her appeal was supported by campaign group the Free Speech Union.

The controversy also led to a protest by women's rights campaigners outside Wembley before an England men's fixture.

"It was really nice to see other people weren't afraid to speak up," said Vaughan.

Appeal board found hearing 'unfair'

The BBC has learned that in February an FA appeal board stated it was "concerned about fundamental aspects" of the case, noting that Vaughan became upset while being questioned during the original hearing.

It said that "maybe for the best of intentions, it led the Commission to truncate her evidence," adding: "That appears to have prevented her from completing her account."

It said that the commission should have considered measures to enable Vaughan "to her give best account in this important case. This appears not to have been done or offered. That was unfair to Cerys".

The appeal body also said it was "also concerned about core aspect of the commission's reasoning," disagreeing that Vaughan had admitted the aggravated breach, and concluding "there appears to have been no consideration of her explanation".

It added that this was "sufficient for us to allow the appeal and quash the commission's decision, which we do".

It said: "Since Cerys did not receive a fair hearing, the correct approach is to remit this case to a differently constituted commission… there should be a resolution of this important case on the merits after a fair hearing."

Vaughan seeking FA apology

Vaughan says she is "happy" that the case has now been dropped, and welcomed the FA's ban on transgender women from playing in women's football, falling in line with several other sports.

"They've basically admitted that I was right in what I did," she said. "If the new ruling was in place when I asked the original question I never would have been punished for anything.

"I'd like the FA to apologise for the way that they treated me… it was a very long, drawn-out case and there was no reason for it to be."

The FA's U-turn in policy pleased those concerned about transgender women retaining physiological advantages from male puberty and the risks to fairness and safety.

But it has also drawn criticism from those who fear it will exclude the 28 registered transgender women in English football from the sport, and marginalise the trans community. There are currently no transgender women playing in professional football.

Natalie Washington, campaign lead for Football v Transphobia, told BBC Sport that the FA rule change is because of "a lot of attention on a very small number of people who aren't causing a problem, and are just going about their lives. It is a de facto ban for transgender women from football more generally, realistically, particularly people who have been playing in women's football for decades."

When asked if she has sympathy for transgender women who may now not play, Vaughan said: "No... I also have a love for the game. I compete with other women. I love football, and if biological males get involved that makes the experience worse for everyone else because then it's not an even game… I don't think the women's game has to be inclusive. It should be women only."

Asked what she would say to those who believe transgender women should still be able to play in women's football if they reduce their testosterone, Vaughan said: "With the height advantage, the difference in bone density, that's there from the beginning, and I think it's unfair.

"I'm at a greater risk of injury, and if you've gone through male puberty you'll always have the biological advantage."

Last week, the FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said the amendment of the FA's rules had been a "difficult decision" based on legal advice, and that it understands "how difficult this decision will be for people who want to play football in the gender by which they identify, and we are aware of the significant impact this will have on them".

[thepastisalreadywritten]

The Prince of Wales Visits FA Referee Training Course At Sporting Khalsa FC

Prince William poses for a group picture with participants of the course during an official visit to an FA Referee Training Course At Sporting Khalsa FC at Aspray Arena on 11 March 2025 in Willenhall, England.

The Prince of Wales is patron of the Football Association. The visit to Khalsa FC is part of the FA’s Reflective and Representative campaign, which aims to recruit 1,000 people from Black, Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds into refereeing roles.

📸 Chris Jackson - WPA Pool / Getty Images

[binding-vow]

[ferrarer17]

Couldn’t agree more.

[postapocalypticromance]

Long term, I don't see how Pep Guardiola would work as England manager, nor do I see the same with Thomas Tuchel.

We go on about how England doesn't have elite managers and how other countries are years ahead of us and then immediately start salivating at the idea of elite foreign manager x because they won a load of stuff with clubs.

I'm not against the FA bringing in a foreign manager. If there's no other options, then I don't see why not. But we can't complain about the lack of top English managers and then have the FA set a precedent for not choosing to nurture an English manager or set of managers because they're not quite winning emphatically enough, or they make a misstep and all of a sudden Carsley finds himself finds himself in a situation where he isn't an option because he lost one match and said he wasn't sure about if he would get the job.

I hate the FA, man.

[calacuspr]

What does the recent transgender sports ban mean for their community?

The UK Supreme Court decision in April 2025 which confirmed that, under the Equality Act, the term ‘woman’ refers exclusively to individuals assigned female at birth, has sent shockwaves through the transgender community.

Where can transgender athletes now go to compete, given that they represent only 0.1% of the UK population? They have as much right to access sports facilities and compete as the rest of society.

The UK government welcomed the ruling for bringing “clarity and confidence” for women and service providers, including those who run sports clubs, according to a government spokesperson. 

Major sports governing bodies, including the Football Association (FA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), have revised their policies that raise serious debates about equality and inclusion, in sport and beyond.

Governing bodies including World Athletics, British Cycling and swimming’s FINA had already updated eligibility policies, banning transgender women from taking part in women’s events.

Three years ago, British Triathlon became the first British sporting body to establish an open category in which transgender athletes could compete, while British Rowing has banned transgender women from women’s category events, as have the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and UK Athletics..

But following the Supreme Court ruling, the FA announced that from the start of June 2025, transgender women will no longer be permitted to participate in women's football at any level in England.

Previously, the FA allowed transgender women to compete in women's leagues, provided they met specific medical criteria, such as maintaining testosterone levels below 5.0 nmol/L for at least 12 months.

The FA stated that this policy change aligns with the new legal framework and international football policies defined by UEFA and FIFA

A day later, the ECB updated its regulations, stating that only individuals whose biological sex is female are eligible to play in women's and girls' cricket matches.

Transgender women and girls will be permitted to participate in open and mixed cricket formats only.

The ECB has emphasised its commitment to inclusivity and pledged to work with recreational cricket boards to support those affected by the change.  

Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, an outspoken critic of transgender athletes in sport, said: “I'm overjoyed that women are getting their sport back at last…the science is still the same. Males kick 50% harder than females, they're taller, they have bigger hands and feet, and they're more dynamic, particularly in goal.

"I've had heart-broken parents talking about their children, their young girls who are self-harming because they've had a season-ending injury.

"A lot of people are owed an apology. It affects half the population who are actually female. It affects all young girls and all women who play football, particularly at grassroots and pathways and junior competition, so this was just about the integrity of sport and as a biological female you are entitled to that integrity just the same as a biological male. Everyone deserves to do sport and the FA must find a way to be inclusive for everybody."

Given the small numbers of transgender athletes – especially at elite level – how do  sports governing bodies think there is scope to have their own separate category?

When transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, there were expectations that she would dominate, but the fact that she came last in her group – although age may have been a factor in her performance.

Natalie Washington, the lead organiser of the Football v Transphobia campaign, told The Athletic that the latest UK Supreme Court judgements were concerning: “The initial reaction to the judgement from most commentators was ‘that’s that, then’ for trans women and sport, and that was what the anti-trans groups were briefing.

“The court made no effort to define biological sex, and that is a problem. For example, it appears to say that it is legal to exclude a trans man from men’s sport on account of his biology, but it is also legal to exclude them from women’s sport as they have masculinised their appearance.

“From an equality point of view, it does not seem right that someone can be excluded from both men’s and women’s sport. And this is the central principle of the Gender Recognition Act 2004, which came about because the British government lost a legal challenge at the European Court of Human Rights. It is a breach of human rights to leave people between genders. So I would expect the treatment of trans men to end up in the courts.

“The failure to define biological sex is also problematic when you think of intersex women. Intersex people make up less than three per cent of the UK population but that is a significant number of people who could end up excluded from sport. And when you think about athletics, could this hinder our chances of staging international events?”

According to a Kick It Out report from last year, there were 22 reported instances of abuse towards players based on gender reassignment in the 2023-24 season across the professional and grassroots game. Though a relatively small number, that is double the instances reported in the season before.

Shane Diamond (he/him), GLAAD's director of communications and transgender advocacy, said to Newsweek: "Sport is a human right and should remain open and accessible to anyone who wants to participate, inclusive of their gender identity. League policies should continue to be created by professionals in sport, medicine, and human rights, not anti-LGBTQ politicians.

“Transgender people have been participating in sports – including football – at all levels for years, following specific protocols to promote safety and fairness. Football is a globally-loved sport and should continue to welcome everyone to the pitch who wants to play, including transgender women and girls."

Former Arsenal and Chelsea centre-back Anita Asante said on an Instagram post:: “The Trans community… continue to face so many challenges just to exist, let alone thrive. Your courage and resilience inspire me every day. This is for you.

“To everyone else – now is not the time to be silent. I call on my fellow sports professionals to speak up in support of a community who are facing daily battles just to be their authentic selves.”

The recent policy shifts by the FA and ECB, influenced by the Supreme Court's ruling, have reignited discussions about inclusivity in sports. While these decisions aim to align with legal definitions and ensure fairness, it's crucial to consider the perspectives and rights of transgender athletes.

As the sports community continues to navigate these complex issues, ongoing dialogue and inclusive practices remain essential to fostering an environment where all athletes can thrive.​

It’s up to the government and the sports governing bodies to ensure that transgender athletes at all levels are catered for and not discriminated against just for wanting to play sport.

[sporadicgentlemengardener-blog]

Lucas Paquetá Enfrenta o 'Maior Jogo da Vida' com o Início do Julgamento de Manipulação de Resultados

Jogador do West Ham nega irregularidades e pode enfrentar suspensão perpétua se for considerado culpado no maior caso de corrupção do futebol inglês em décadas Cerca de 60 apostas foram feitas sobre Paquetá receber cartão amarelo em quatro jogos da Premier League em 2022 e 2023 Matt Hughes, The Guardian – 17 março (13h05 de Londres) – Numa temporada dominada pelas batalhas legais da Premier…

[creativemedianews]

For biting Blackburn defender Owen Beck, Preston striker Milutin Osmajic gets an eight-match ban and £15,000 fine

For biting Blackburn defender Owen Beck, Preston striker Milutin Osmajic gets an eight-match ban and £15,000 fine

[thewales-family]

The Prince of Wales visits an FA Referee Training Course At Sporting Khalsa FC, as part of the Football Association's Reflective and Representative campaign to recruit 1,000 people from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds into refereeing roles, at Aspray Arena in Willenhall, England -March 11th 2025.

[jontheblogcentric]

2024 UEFA Euro: My Semifinals Predictions

After more than three weeks and 48 games, only four teams remain in contention. If you thought the group play had a lot of crazy moments, the Round of 16 matches and quarterfinals have their share of shockers too. Where do I start? Starting with the quarterfinals, first came Switzerland surprising Italy 2-0. Any hopes of a comeback for Team Italy will have to be put on development. Just when…

[factflow]

The Beautiful Game 6 Mind-Blowing Football Facts You Won't Believe! Are You Ready To ...

Step into the thrilling world of football, the globe's most beloved sport, boasting a staggering 4 billion enthusiasts worldwide. Uncover the origins of this mesmerizing game, tracing its roots back to England in 1863 when the Football Association laid down the first rules. Dive into the ultimate showdown of international football, the FIFA World Cup, a prestigious event that captures hearts every four years. Prepare to be astonished as we reveal the lightning-fast goal that etched history in a mere 2.8 seconds and the remarkable feat of Stephan Stanis, who netted an incredible 16 goals in a single match. Join us in rewinding time to witness the groundbreaking televised moment that forever changed how we experience football, featuring none other than Arsenal.

[tubbytarchia]

How do you draw non-chibi dragons so cute?? I want to hug them... Can I see more of Jimmy dragon, he looks so soft <3

Anon I'm sorry I hope you're ready for one of the most miserable creatures I have ever conceived

[conclaveyaoi]

it’s back on schedule

[khawla-gfm2]

📰Khawla's Family Campaign Update: 128📰

$48,872/$80,000 as of December 23rd [10pm CDT]

Currently $128 away from $49,000 as a short term goal!

If 1,556 people donated $20 the fundraiser would reach it's set goal!

Please consider donating even just $5, $10, or $20 to help the fundraiser further along. And remember that reblogging/sharing to reach more people can help a lot!

[for more information on the campaign: check my pinned post, the campaign page itself, or message me directly if you have any questions]

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