New FA rules require trans men to say they are “biologically female” to play football
- Text by Molly Baker
- Photography by Theo McInnes
Not just a game — The new policy comes into place following April’s Supreme Court ruling, which said that the legal definition of a “woman” could only refer to those assigned female at birth.
The Football Association now requires transgender men to say they are “biologically female”, following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on 16 April that the legal definition of a “woman” is based on biological sex.
The new rules imposed by the FA, English football’s governing body, also require trans men to agree they “have a greater risk of injury when playing against adult biological males”.
The FA said the change in policy, which came into effect in June, was written in collaboration with their legal counsel to align with the new legal framework. The association said that the new rules in place for trans men were “not an ideological judgement”, but necessary following the ruling.
In order to play in FA competitions in the 2025 – 26 season, trans men must complete a form stating that they are “a biological female whose gender identity is male or non-binary who would like to compete in open age matches and competitions that are reserved for men”.
The form also requires acknowledgement that “there are physiological and performance differences between adult biological females and adult biological males”, resulting in “a greater risk of injury”, and requires trans men to have a testosterone level “in the normal adult male range” of 7.7 to 29.4 nanomoles per litre of blood.
Although trans men are permitted to play if they agree to the terms of the form, trans women have been banned from female football in FA competitions since 1 June. A previous version of the policy required trans players to register to play football in their preferred gender category, but used different language. This policy – released in April before the Supreme Court ruling – required players to “acknowledge and accept the possible increased injury risk associated with female-to-male transgender individuals”.
One anonymous transgender footballer, who has played men’s football at amateur level, told the BBC: “I am not a biological female, I am a man.
“I highly doubt many trans men would agree to sign a document with that language in it, so it feels like a ban on the sly,” he continued”.
The FA told the BBC: “We published our updated transgender policy last month to help ensure both the FA and our local County FA network would be able to operate within this new legal framework following the Supreme Court ruling in April 2025.
“We remain committed to supporting transgender players who meet the requirements of our new policy so they can continue to play football.”
Molly Baker is a freelance journalist. Follow her on Instagram.
Buy your copy of Huck 81 here.
Enjoyed this article? Follow Huck on Instagram and sign up to our newsletter for more from the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture.
Support stories like this by becoming a member of Club Huck.
You might like
Inside Parkuir: the art project queering sport, space and our bodies
Lie and play — Founded by Maria Laudes and Guiu Gimeno, it provides a framework for engaging, subverting, and celebrating the small details that make people unique – and queer.
Written by: Molly Lipson
London’s largest indoor skatepark to be demolished for padel courts
Better Extreme — The Barking skatepark’s fate follows that of similar indoor spaces in recent years, with operators GLL citing falling visitor numbers as the reason behind the decision.
Written by: Isaac Muk
In the pit at one of the UK’s last stock car & banger speedways
Stock Car Racing Isn’t Dead — Photographer Liam McCarthy spent time in and around the Arlington Raceway’s circuit, capturing the diehard community that keeps the sport alive.
Written by: Isaac Muk
A major Nan Goldin exhibition is coming to London
You Never Did Anything Wrong — Opening at the Hayward Gallery in November, the show will debut a new film from the artist and activist, alongside a slate of recent work.
Written by: Jack Dennison-Thompson
Burning rubber with the Middle East’s women rally racers
Ripping dirt — Across the Middle East and North Africa, women are increasingly chasing the thrill of speed, competition and freedom that comes with driving on gruelling terrain, as well as podium positions. Roxana Diba speaks to trailblazers of the scene, who are reshaping ideas of what women are capable of behind the wheel.
Written by: Roxana Diba
Activists replace Union Jacks with ‘Tax The Rich’ flags in Farage’s Clacton
Take Back Power — It comes after the Reform UK leader resigned as an MP and triggered a by-election in the constituency, following scrutiny over a £5 million donation that he had not declared.
Written by: Ella Glossop
