FA chief Bullingham insists trans ban “not an ideological judgment”

Mark Bullingham, the Football Association’s chief executive, has communicated to London grassroots club Goal Diggers FC the reasoning behind the governing body's decision to prohibit transgender women from participating in women’s football. According to ‘The Guardian’, he stated it “was not an ideological judgment, but a difficult decision” informed by legal counsel, indicating a “change in policy was necessary” following the supreme court's ruling that the term “woman” in the Equality Act pertains solely to biological women.

On Monday, representatives of Goal Diggers embarked on a 12-mile journey from their practice grounds in Haggerston Park to Wembley Stadium to present their open letter to the FA. In the letter, they called for the ban on transgender women in women’s football to be revoked, describing the FA's decision as a “pitiful and weak response” to the supreme court's verdict.

Bullingham acknowledged the FA is aware “how difficult this decision will be for people who want to play football in the gender by which they identify, and we understand the significant impact this will have on them.” He also recognised the repercussions for Goal Diggers FC, highlighting their players, coaches, volunteers, and fans' vital role in promoting diversity in football.

He reassured that the FA intends to “work with every registered transgender player in our network to ensure their continued involvement in football and we will maintain those discussions.” However, Goal Diggers' player Becky Taylor-Gill urged the FA to show greater support for transgender women. “Their motto is football for all. Put your money where your mouth is,” she said, emphasising the need for legal advocacy for inclusive football.

“We’ve created a safe space for trans women in our women’s team that we really cherish and they should feel welcomed. This decision will just push more trans women out of football at a time when that’s what they really need.”

Outside the Haggerston Park pitches, where Goal Diggers train, members of this nonprofit club, established to offer football to all women and non-binary individuals, signed flags and set off flares with supporters before commencing their walk. Originally intended as a sponsored event to raise funds with a concluding letter opposing the FA’s policy on transgender women in grassroots football, the walk expanded into a broader protest following the supreme court's decision and FA's subsequent ban, welcoming participation from other clubs and campaign supporters aiming to deliver the message that “Our governing body should not be adding more barriers to transgender people to be welcomed into the beautiful game.”

Taylor-Gill remarked that the FA’s decision “goes completely against what Goal Diggers stand for and what the grassroots women’s football community stands for,” noting the extensive efforts needed even for them to play regularly. She recounted challenges faced to secure playing fields, often constrained to sandy astro and children’s school play areas, while men’s teams occupied available pitches.

“Historically, the FA banned women from football in 1921 on FA-affiliated pitches, and now they're doing similar, targeting our transgender teammates, who are already vulnerable amidst UK-wide transphobia. The decision strips them of a crucial community at an essential time. That’s really, really sad.”

Sammy Rees, a trans woman player for Goal Diggers, expressed her feelings of being “hurt, annoyed, and scared” following the ban. “The ruling has brought new stresses and changes in how I perceive and interact with others,” she shared, emphasising heightened self-awareness and perception challenges previously unfelt.

Fiona McAnena, a campaign director for Sex Matters, an organisation advocating for recognition of biological sex in legal and societal realms, commented on the FA decision: “The FA has not banned anyone from football. It has reaffirmed women's need for dedicated teams and leagues, with mixed-sex play remaining a choice, not an imposition.”

Rees added, “As a trans woman who has played men’s football, while I experienced acceptance, I was uncomfortable, as have other trans individuals. Women's football offers me love, guidance, acceptance, and, most importantly, respect.”