The Football Association has offered transgender women “online talking therapy” after banning their participation in women’s football, or recommended becoming referees or coaches.
From 1 June, transgender women will not be able to participate in women’s football in England or Scotland, a decision the FA have made after the Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of women is based on biological sex.
This ruling did not make any recommendations for transgender participation in sport, but the FA has followed the Scottish FA, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and England Netball in banning trans women from female-only forms of the game.
square POLITICS FA bans trans women from female football teams after Supreme Court ruling
Read More
These changes are expected to impact around 20 registered transgender female players, compared to 2.5m registered female players.
In an email seen by The i Paper and sent to all registered transgender players, the FA wrote: “In the immediate aftermath of this news to help support you through this, we have partnered with Sporting Chance to provide you with free, fully confidential, online talking therapy with specially selected therapists.”
The number of free sessions is capped at six, and a non-specialised email address is provided.
There is also the suggestion of a “mixed football format currently being developed”, but these are largely in the pilot phase and location-dependent.
This means that trans women who want to continue playing will either have to join trans-specific teams like Truk United or join a men’s club, where they could face discrimination.
A further proposal is to become a coach or match official, in the footsteps of transgender referee and current Sutton United Women’s head coach Lucy Clark.
The email states: “You might be willing to consider moving your enjoyment of affiliated football into coaching or being a match official, we welcome that are there are routes to do this.”
In a statement, the FA said: “As the governing body of the national sport, our role is to make football accessible to as many people as possible, operating within the law and international football policy defined by Uefa and Fifa.
“Our current policy, which allows transgender women to participate in the women’s game, was based on this principle and supported by expert legal advice.
“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.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Banned trans footballers told to become referees or coaches – or get therapy )
Also on site :
- India-Pakistan deadly fighting forces airlines to re-route, cancel flights
- Kremlin comments on ceasefire plans after Ukrainian drone strikes
- '90s Singer Makes Powerful Career Move After 5 Years Without New Music