In a move that’s already sparking outrage, the Scottish Football Association will officially ban transgender women from participating in women’s football starting next season. The controversial decision comes on the heels of a UK Supreme Court ruling that the term “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act means “biological sex”—a decision that’s swiftly turning from legal interpretation into real-world exclusion.
While FIFA continues to waffle on a global gender eligibility policy, the Scottish FA has leapfrogged into harsh territory, banning all trans women over the age of 13 from taking part in the women’s game. No warnings, no red tape—just a straight red card. The ban appears preemptive and absolute, despite the fact that there are currently no trans women playing in the professional leagues of England or Scotland. Only about 20 trans women are even involved in grassroots football.
This blanket ban is yet another chapter in what’s becoming a relentless campaign to erase trans athletes from sports. Across the UK, governing bodies are tightening the screws under the guise of “fairness,” with England Hockey facing a lawsuit from three trans athletes, including Rachel Saunders, for barring them from competition. And let’s not forget Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who gleefully applauded the court’s ruling, while Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson suggested trans folks should “use toilets based on biological sex.”
Impact on LGBTQ+ Communities
This isn’t just about football—it’s about visibility, participation, and human dignity. Sports have long been a place where people come together regardless of background or identity. But for trans women, the goalposts are being moved yet again. Banning trans women from the pitch doesn’t protect women’s sports—it polices gender in a way that says trans lives are lesser, their rights more fragile.
It’s not just discriminatory, it’s humiliating. For young trans girls growing up in Scotland, dreaming of pulling on a jersey and playing on the field, that dream has been shattered before it even got a chance to begin. “This tells us that no matter how talented we are or how hard we work, we’re still not welcome,” one activist shared in response to the ban.
And while the Scottish FA insists this is about fairness, it’s hard not to see it as part of a broader effort to marginalize trans people under the cloak of policy. The LGBTQ+ community deserves better than this performative playbook. Trans people belong—in sports, in schools, in society. Period.
Scotland may be proud of its football legacy, but this decision won’t be winning any trophies for inclusion.