FAW bans transgender women from women's football in Wales

Transgender women are no longer eligible to play in women’s affiliated football in Wales, after the Football Association of Wales changed its eligibility policy with immediate effect.

The FAW board has agreed that eligibility for affiliated competitions reserved by sex will be determined by sex assigned at birth.

The governing body said the change followed an extensive review of the legal framework around sex-affected sport, taking in the 2025 UK Supreme Court judgment and the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Code of Practice.

The policy covers affiliated football at every level, from the national set-up to grassroots clubs and leagues across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire.

The FAW said the review ran over 15 months and involved transgender participants, clubs, players, leagues, safeguarding professionals, academics, Welsh Government, Sport Wales and legal experts.

The association described it as “one of the most detailed and carefully considered policy reviews” it has undertaken.

It acknowledged the decision’s impact directly, saying it “recognises that the revised eligibility criteria will affect members of our football community, particularly transgender players”, and that it understood the strength of feeling around the discussion.

The FAW said its commitment to a game that is “welcoming, respectful and inclusive for everyone remains unchanged”, and that the policy will stay under review as the legal landscape evolves.

Alongside the change, the association has set up a Trans Participation Working Group, made up of transgender participants, clubs and partner organisations, to develop future participation opportunities and advise on implementation.

The FAW said it would work directly with affected players and clubs on putting the policy into practice, and would “be ready to act should the legal position change”.

The decision was welcomed by the gender-critical Women’s Rights Network Wales, which said on X that the FAW had “FINALLY capitulated”, abandoning policies the group described as unlawful and as failing to protect the women’s and girls’ game.

The group said it had received confirmation of the immediate changes from FAW chief executive Noel Mooney after what it called years of campaigning, adding that the association had “responded appropriately” to its safeguarding concerns.

The change marks a shift in the association’s own public position. As recently as 2024 the FAW promoted the Football v Transphobia campaign, saying it “welcomes trans people to play, support, and feel included in football in Wales”, and it backed the campaign’s month of action again this year.

Stonewall has not yet commented on the Welsh decision. Responding to the equivalent move by the English and Scottish FAs last year, the charity said trans women “young and old who love sport will be deeply distressed”, and that trans people “need to be treated with dignity and respect”.

The FAW said it had sought throughout the review “to listen carefully, act thoughtfully” and ensure those affected could share their experiences.

The association said it would continue working through its PAWB strategy to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect and has meaningful opportunities to play.

The changes take effect immediately, with guidance to follow for affected players, clubs and partners.