Latest news with #GoalDiggersFC
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
‘People are welcoming' – Goal Diggers FC hold inclusive tournament as FA ban on trans women starts
On Sunday morning more than 100 players gathered in north London to compete in an inclusive women's football tournament to protest against the ban on transgender women in women's football on the day it came into effect. Last month the Football Association announced that trans women would no longer be able to compete in women's football as result of the supreme court's ruling on 16 April that the terms 'women' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer only to biological women and biological sex. This is believed to affect 28 FA-registered trans women. Before the ban trans women had been able to play in the women's game if they agreed to meet certain criteria, including providing medical records showing their testosterone levels were below a specified level, records of hormone therapy and having a 'match observation' by an FA official, who would have 'ultimate discretion' on whether they could continue to play on a case-by-case basis. The FA said its previous policy was based on its aim of 'making football accessible to as many people as possible, operating within the law and international football policy defined by Uefa and Fifa' and was 'supported by expert legal advice'. It added: 'This is a complex subject and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science or the operation of the policy in grassroots football then we would review it and change it if necessary.' Goal Diggers FC, an inclusive London-based football club, brought together players from across London to play in a tournament aimed at showing solidarity with their trans players and protesting against the ban. The club previously acted against the announcement of the ban by organising a 12-mile walk from their training pitches in Haggerston Park to Wembley to deliver a petition to the FA opposing it. 'I'm aware that there are people in the FA that don't agree with the decision,' said Billie Sky, a trans player for Goal Diggers and London Galaxy. 'The FA reviewed its guidance [as late as] 11 April and they decided to keep trans women in. So anyone who's arguing that this is to protect women's safety in sport is misguided; they've done this because they have to politically. That guidance [for the decision on 11 April] was based on research from World Athletics and the IOC [International Olympic Committee] which showed that trans women's muscle mass reduces, among many other physiological factors. 'It would be nice to see the FA say something more substantial and support the people who have been a part of their organisation for a long time. A lot of trans women have stuck by the FA through not always the easiest times, there have been a lot of difficult cases with trans women and cis women being questioned over their gender identity.' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Having won promotion with London Galaxy, who play in the eighth tier of the pyramid, Sky will no longer be able to play with the team – 'though I was on the bench a lot so that tells you something about how good I am compared to my cis teammates'. Sky added: 'In terms of my own experience as a trans woman, when I first came out I didn't know any of that and I wasn't sure whether I should be playing football but cis women welcomed me in, they're the ones that invited me to play at Goal Diggers and also my other team London Galaxy.' Paula Griffin, a trans goalkeeper for Goal Diggers, said the tournament on Sunday showed 'that the people who play the sport, the women or non-binary people who play football, are welcoming and accepting'. Griffin said: 'As trans women we play together with other women, we play alongside them, they're our teammates, they're our opponents, but more importantly, they're our friends. This tournament shows people that this community exists, is there for them too and will not be divided.' Tackling the argument that there are safety concerns over trans women competing in women's football, Griffin said: 'Football by its very nature is a contact sport. I've had some of my worst injuries, only a couple, against women. Everyone's conscious of injuries. Injuries will happen, and they're not going to stop happening because we banned 28 women from playing. Nothing is going to change on that front.' There are some, however, who have welcomed the ban. Jane Sullivan, from the Women's Rights Network, said: 'We welcome the FA's move to protect women's football, making it safe and fair for females. Women have suffered season-ending injuries, been disciplined for questioning the presence of males on the pitch, seen their places on teams taken by males and suffered horrendous levels of abuse for demanding female-only football. Males playing in women's teams also have access to female changing rooms and toilets, which is unlawful and a safeguarding risk for women and girls.' Fiona McAnena, the director of campaigns at the human rights charity Sex Matters, said: 'For every trans-identifying male player who dislikes this policy, there are dozens of female players who are relieved that they won't have to face them on the pitch any more.'
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
On the day transgender women soccer players face a ban in England, they play on
LONDON — For soccer-loving transgender women in England, it's been a tough day, as the ban on their participation in women's teams came into force. To show its solidarity with the community and against the decision by the governing body of English soccer (football), Goal Diggers Football Club, a London-based trans-inclusive women's team, held a tournament Sunday.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
On the day transgender women soccer players face a ban in England, they play on
LONDON (AP) — For soccer-loving transgender women in England, it's been a tough day, as the ban on their participation in women's teams came into force. To show its solidarity with the community and against the decision by the governing body of English soccer (football), Goal Diggers Football Club, a London-based trans-inclusive women's team, held a tournament Sunday. The message was clear. Yes, it's a sad day, but no one will stop us playing the sport we love. Around 100 people — women, trans women, non-binary and gender non-conforming players —took part in the 'Let The Dolls Play Tournament' in Islington, north London. And everyone present appeared to find comfort in their solidarity despite the occasional foul, intentional or not. 'You know they're not going take away this community, my friends,' said Paula Griffin, a 60-year-old transgender woman. 'And there's such a powerful message coming from that, that the people who care about women's sport are the people who play the women's sports. And these are the people that are my friends.' Griffin, like the others, are still dismayed by the decision last month by England's Football Association to ban transgender women from playing on women's soccer teams from June 1 following a U.K. Supreme Court ruling in April. The F.A. said it had decided to change its rules that had allowed transgender athletes to play in women's soccer teams if they had reduced testosterone levels. The decision came in the wake of the ruling from the U.K.'s Supreme Court that defined a woman for anti-discrimination purposes as someone born biologically female. The head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said after the ruling that transgender women would be excluded from women's toilets, hospital wards and sports teams. While the ruling was cheered by some feminist groups, it was condemned by trans-rights groups who said it would have a broad and detrimental impact on daily life. 'It's really upset me,' said Billie Sky, a 28-year-old transgender woman. 'I have to say, this has been a really hard week. I've struggled to get out of bed at times. I'm doing my best to get through work and come to things like this, but it's, it's really difficult.' The issue has been polarizing in the U.K. and beyond, particularly in the United States, where President Donald Trump has signed executive orders to prohibit participation of transgender athletes in sports and to use a rigid definition of the sexes, rather than gender, for federal government purposes. The orders are being challenged in court. For those present at the tournament in north London on Sunday morning, the fight will go on but for now, it's about keeping the sport they love close. 'I think that's the whole point of today, is we're trying to just reclaim the day and make it a really joyous time to spend together,' said Jahnavi Kalayil, a 26-year-old woman. 'And I think it's definitely happened, everyone's had a really great time. Whether winning or losing the games, it's more about just coming together as a community and making sure we're standing up for our trans siblings.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
On the day transgender women soccer players face a ban in England, they play on
For soccer-loving transgender women in England, it's been a tough day, as the ban on their participation in women's teams came into force. To show its solidarity with the community and against the decision by the governing body of English soccer (football), Goal Diggers Football Club, a London-based trans-inclusive women's team, held a tournament Sunday. The message was clear. Yes, it's a sad day, but no one will stop us playing the sport we love. Around 100 people — women, trans women, non-binary and gender non-conforming players —took part in the 'Let The Dolls Play Tournament' in Islington, north London. And everyone present appeared to find comfort in their solidarity despite the occasional foul, intentional or not. 'You know they're not going take away this community, my friends,' said Paula Griffin, a 60-year-old transgender woman. "And there's such a powerful message coming from that, that the people who care about women's sport are the people who play the women's sports. And these are the people that are my friends.' Griffin, like the others, are still dismayed by the decision last month by England's Football Association to ban transgender women from playing on women's soccer teams from June 1 following a U.K. Supreme Court ruling in April. The F.A. said it had decided to change its rules that had allowed transgender athletes to play in women's soccer teams if they had reduced testosterone levels. The decision came in the wake of the ruling from the U.K.'s Supreme Court that defined a woman for anti-discrimination purposes as someone born biologically female. The head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said after the ruling that transgender women would be excluded from women's toilets, hospital wards and sports teams. While the ruling was cheered by some feminist groups, it was condemned by trans-rights groups who said it would have a broad and detrimental impact on daily life. 'It's really upset me,' said Billie Sky, a 28-year-old transgender woman. "I have to say, this has been a really hard week. I've struggled to get out of bed at times. I'm doing my best to get through work and come to things like this, but it's, it's really difficult.' The issue has been polarizing in the U.K. and beyond, particularly in the United States, where President Donald Trump has signed executive orders to prohibit participation of transgender athletes in sports and to use a rigid definition of the sexes, rather than gender, for federal government purposes. The orders are being challenged in court. For those present at the tournament in north London on Sunday morning, the fight will go on but for now, it's about keeping the sport they love close. 'I think that's the whole point of today, is we're trying to just reclaim the day and make it a really joyous time to spend together,' said Jahnavi Kalayil, a 26-year-old woman. "And I think it's definitely happened, everyone's had a really great time. Whether winning or losing the games, it's more about just coming together as a community and making sure we're standing up for our trans siblings.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
How FA's new transgender policy is affecting players
Billie Sky has just helped her team to promotion but now she cannot play for them is one of 28 transgender women registered with the Football Association to play amateur football in England who are banned from playing FA-affiliated women's the UK Supreme Court's ruling on 16 April that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, the English football's governing body said that from 1 June only those born biologically female will be permitted to play women's football at all ruling has forced Sky to stop playing competitive 11-a-side football for one of her teams, London Galaxy. She will still be able to play informally for her other - Goal Diggers FC - as the club has withdrawn from all FA-affiliated leagues in response to the new policy."I just took part in a season with London Galaxy and helped them earn promotion," she told BBC Sport. "Now I can't play with them, which is really sad. I put a lot of commitment into that club."What am I supposed to do? Go and play with the men? Because I don't feel safe playing there. And all of my team-mates want me here."BBC Sport approached a number of grassroots footballers who support the did not want to go on record with their opinions because of a fear of reprisals, but one footballer, who plays in the sixth tier of the women's game, was willing to speak (not her real name) believes the FA's new policy "protects the integrity of women's football that we have fought for so long to attain".The issues around the policy have been described by the FA as a "complex subject" and wider debates have centred on inclusion, sporting fairness and safety in women's sport. 'It's been my life' When avid football fan Sky first transitioned, she had given up on the idea of sport, but that changed when she was encouraged to join Goal Diggers FC, an inclusive club based in London."I think I had the first moments of my life where I wasn't thinking about the fact that I'm trans or different or weird or something. I just felt like another person here," the 28-year-old said."It was a community that I found and I loved it. And since then it's been my life. My identity is very much one of football."Sky, who came out as transgender four years ago, said she "had a feeling" the ban was coming."It does feel scary," she said. "It feels like a little bit of my safety net has just been taken away."I felt like there's this real empowering nature to football for me, as I've become more confident on the pitch, I've become more confident as a person. And I feel like losing some of that opportunity to continue that storyline."The FA has written to transgender players facing a ban, offering "online talking therapy" or support in taking another route in women's football, such as refereeing or coaching. Sky has declined the offer."I guess I could go into coaching or refereeing, but that's not what the love of the game is for me," said Sky, who is a graphic designer. "It's being out there on the pitch, connecting with people, giving 100% until the last minute."Sometimes I wonder if I should just leave the country. I've lived in London my whole life. I love this city in so many ways, but I feel like it doesn't want me here." 'A deep sense of reassurance' Georgie started playing football when she was five and grew up around the game, with her two brothers and uncle heavily involved in the sport."When I heard about the FA's decision, it gave me a deep sense of reassurance," she said."I was happy that something was being done to protect the integrity of the women's game, a space that means so much to me and so many other women and girls."This isn't about excluding anyone. It's about recognising the importance of fairness and safety in sport."Georgie, who is in her early 20s, says her view is deeply rooted in the scientific research that suggests the physiological differences established during male puberty create advantages that cannot be fully reversed with hormone is limited research into what effect transitioning can have on an athlete - because there are so few transgender athletes. However, studies are currently under also told BBC Sport that her opinions are shared by the rest of her team and have been shaped by their experiences."One of the teams we faced included two transgender women. I've seen first-hand how the physical differences played out on the pitch," she said."This isn't something we see week in, week out in the women's game... None of us had consented to be part of that kind of match-up, and yet we were put in that position."What's worse is that when we try to speak up, we're told not to. As captain, my coach made it clear that saying anything to the match officials or to the FA - even politely - would likely result in punishment. That fear of retribution silences so many of us."On11 April the FA updated its rules to allow trans women - who are biologically male - to continue to play in women's football under stricter criteria before changing its policy a few days later after the Supreme Court said she hoped "we can continue to work towards creating spaces within football where transgender women can participate in a way that's safe, fair, and respected".
