England’s Football Association to protect women’s soccer

The national governing body of soccer teams in England on Thursday changed a policy that previously allowed men who claimed to be female to play on women’s teams. Now only biological women will be allowed to play in women’s soccer. The new policy will take effect June 1 and apply to all women’s teams governed by the body. According to the Football Association, leaders made the policy change after the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court last month affirmed that, for equality purposes, British law defines a woman as an adult biological female. 

Have other sports leagues in the United Kingdom taken the same action? The Scottish Football Association this week is also updating its gender policy, according to the BBC. Meanwhile, The Telegraph reported the England and Wales Cricket Board would also change its guidelines. The cricket board’s earlier policy has allowed people who identify themselves as transgender to participate not only in mixed competitions but also in men’s or women’s matches regardless of their biological sex.

Dig deeper: Read my report about the ruling to uphold the biological definition of a woman.