A transgender player and West Yorkshire Whippets football club have been discovered violating the Football Association’s prohibition on individuals born male competing in women’s football.
The unnamed footballer participated in matches for the club after the ban took effect on 1 June, following the Supreme Court’s April ruling.
Evidence indicates the player competed on the very day the new regulations came into force and continued throughout the summer months.
The FA has now terminated the individual’s registration with the club. However, this action occurred only after SEEN in Sport, an organisation advocating for fairness in women’s sport, brought the matter to the attention of football authorities.
The FA has now terminated the individual’s registration with the club
|
PA
The breach raises significant concerns about enforcement of the new rules across grassroots football.
Documentation obtained by Telegraph Sport reveals the player appeared in the club’s first three fixtures of the season in the Harrogate & Craven Junior Girls Football League. Team sheets published on the FA website show participation in two matches as a starter and one as an unused substitute.
The club posted multiple photographs on their Facebook page showing the player at various matches after 1 June. Images also appeared on a social media page bearing the player’s name, which was deactivated following Telegraph Sport’s enquiries on Tuesday.
West Riding FA informed SEEN in Sport last week that no evidence existed of any rule breach by the player or club.
This response came despite publicly available team sheets clearly documenting the individual’s involvement in competitive fixtures.
West Yorkshire Whippets have withdrawn from their league following a presentation of evidence on Tuesday.
The club in question had initially blasted the FA’s transgender ban
|
PA
The club had previously declared strong opposition to the FA’s regulations. When the ban was announced, they stated: “We are deeply disappointed by the FA’s decision to ban trans women from playing in women’s football. It is exclusionary, harmful, and goes against the values we believe football should stand for inclusion, fairness, and community.”
Whippets were amongst several LGBTQ+-friendly clubs who publicly resisted the rule change.
They co-signed correspondence to the FA requesting reconsideration of the policy, arguing it would create discrimination and place unfair burdens on grassroots volunteers.
Sue Wong, spokeswoman for SEEN in Sport, highlighted the disparity in enforcement: “A girl was punished with a six-match ban last year just for asking why there was a man on a women’s team. Why is there no similar reaction to breaches of the new FA policy?”
She warned that female players faced unfair competition, injury risks and discrimination each week the situation continued. Insurance policies could potentially be invalidated when ineligible players participate.
Wong called for football authorities to require all leagues and affiliated clubs to issue statements confirming compliance with the policy. She emphasised: “If a club wishes to field mixed-sex teams, that’s completely fine, but they cannot call it a women’s team.”
The organisation demands clear eligibility guidance and published sanctions for non-compliance.
