An 18-year-old women’s soccer player in England was suspended for six games and forced to take an online education course after asking referees if transgender opponents on an opposing team were men. The player, who has learning difficulties including ADHD, made the comment in September and was sanctioned by a National Serious Case Panel. This is the second incident of a teenage female player being banned for inquiring about the birth sex of opposing players.
The player’s club was also dealt seven disciplinary points, and the incident has sparked controversy over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. The Football Association (FA) in England has a policy allowing players who are biologically male but identify as female to play in the women’s game, as long as they are 16 or older.
The issue of trans inclusion in women’s sports has become a global issue, with many women’s rights groups opposing the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s competitions. A recent report by the UN’s Rapporteur on Violence Against Women found that nearly 900 biological females have fallen short of the podium because they were beaten out by trans athletes. The report also found that the replacement of the female sports category with a mixed-sex category has resulted in an increasing number of female athletes losing opportunities, including medals, when competing against males.
