Latest news with #NationalSeriousCasePanel
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Second teenage footballer banned for asking if transgender opponents were men
A second teenage footballer has been handed a six-match ban for asking whether adult transgender opponents she was playing were men. An 18-year-old, whom Telegraph Sport has been told has both ADHD and learning difficulties, was sanctioned by a National Serious Case Panel in a case with parallels to that for which a 17-year-old girl with suspected autism was handed a similar suspension. The second teen was charged by her county FA over comments she made to a referee during a match in September, the same month she turned 18. It was alleged she said: 'Ref, have you checked if all of their players are eligible to play? Look at their 'keeper and for example their number 10 is obviously a man,' or something similar. She was banned for six matches, two of which were suspended, after accepting the charge brought under national Football Association rules that allow those born male to play in women's matches. The teen was also forced to undergo an 'online education course', while her club were handed seven disciplinary points. An investigation into her comments required her to provide a written statement, which Telegraph Sport has been told she needed assistance in composing. In it she said she had sought guidance from the referee due to her trans opponents' 'extremely aggressive' style of play. She also said she had not taken her ADHD medication on the day in question because 'another medical condition' had prevented her from doing so. The disciplinary proceedings were triggered by a complaint made by the opposition club, which included the claim that she had said to their non-trans players: 'This is a man.' She has admitted trying to ask those players if their team-mates were biologically male after failing to get clarity from the ref, who, she wrote in her statement, had threatened to send her off if she continued to quiz him on the matter. Speaking to Telegraph Sport on condition of anonymity, the teenager said of her ban: 'It kind of made me hate football.' She also said she feared she had been gagged from asking questions or raising concerns about playing against those born male. 'If I say anything else, I get another six-game ban,' she said. 'So I can't even stand up for myself at this point.' The teen's case has come to light three months after Telegraph Sport revealed a 17-year-old with suspected autism was facing a ban of up to 12 matches for asking an adult transgender opponent: 'Are you a man?' She denied a discrimination charge but was banned for six games in November, four of them suspended. The outcome was condemned in the House of Lords in November by former FA chairman Lord Triesman, who wrote to the FA about it and was invited to meet its leaders to discuss his concerns. It also sparked protests by campaigners outside England men's and women's matches at Wembley and Bramall Lane. As with the ban imposed on the 17-year-old, the written reasons for the punishment imposed on the other teen have not been made public, even in a redacted form. Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at Sex Matters, said: 'It's disgraceful that another teenage girl has been suspended for daring to challenge the presence of a male player in a women's game. The FA has punished her for asking a question that matters for her own safety, and for fairness for all girls. Sending her for mandatory 're-education' won't solve this. 'How many other cases are there like this? How long can the FA continue to claim that there is no problem? How can the FA say it supports the women's game when girls are being suspended for pointing out there is a man on the pitch? 'Many sports have waited until a man is about to hit the big time in the women's game before acting to protect the female category. A cynic might speculate that we won't see fairness in football until a male player demands his place in the Lionesses.' An FA spokesperson said: 'This case was heard by an independent National Serious Case Panel in November 2024, and they issued a sanction for a breach of FA rules. The charges were immediately accepted by the player and the outcome was the minimum sanction that could be issued for a case of this nature. The player did not appeal the sanction. 'In order to protect the players involved, and to respect the confidential details included, we are not in a position to publish the written reasons of this case. We have previously said that cases of this nature are complex and that the information in the public domain is very limited, often to protect the individuals involved. 'We regularly review our processes in this area and we will always look to take the appropriate steps to challenge improper conduct in our game.' Just over a year ago, 48 MPs and 27 peers signed a letter urging the FA to change its trans rules to 'protect women and girls' in football. Its trans policy has long been under review but it has been waiting for Fifa and Uefa to complete reviews of their own policies before amending its own. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Fox News
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Women's soccer players suspended for asking if trans opponents are men: 'I can't even stand up for myself'
An 18-year-old women's soccer player in England was suspended six games for asking referees if transgender opponents on an opposing team were men. It is the second incident when a teenage female player was banned for inquiring to referees about the birth sex of opposing players, The Telegraph reported. The most recent incident took place in September when she made a comment to referees, asking if an opposing team's goalkeeper and others were eligible to play. The female player reportedly has learning difficulties, including ADHD. The incident was sanctioned by a National Serious Case Panel, and in addition to her six-game ban, with two games suspended, she was also forced to undergo an "online education course." Her club was dealt seven disciplinary points. In a statement provided to The Telegraph, the 18-year-old referred to the trans opponents as "extremely aggressive." She also said she did not take her ADHD medication that day because "another medical condition" prevented it. "It kind of made me hate football," she said. "If I say anything else, I get another six-game ban. So I can't even stand up for myself at this point." The first incident of a teenage female getting banned for such inquiries occurred in November. That month, a 17-year-old player with autism was punished for allegedly asking a transgender opponent "are you a man?" The female player was dealt a six-game ban, with four of them suspended. In England, The Football Association (FA) has a policy of allowing players who are biologically male, but identify as female, aged 16 or older, to play in the women's game. According to the FA rules, "The general position is that the participation of trans people in competitive sports cannot be restricted unless it is strictly necessary to pursue a legitimate aim, namely securing fair competition and safety of other competitors." The FA's policy is in accordance with the country's Equality Act of 2010, which states, "Gender reassignment is one of nine protected characteristics… and as such transsexual people are protected against discrimination." The country's policy that enables trans competitors against women also affected the U.K. Mini Series pool women's championships in October. There, transgender competitors Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith, both of whom are biological males, were allowed to play. Haynes and Smith ended up facing off against each other in the semifinals after each of them defeated a string of biologically female opponents. Haynes won that match, advancing to the final. However, opponent Kirsty-Lee Davies defeated Haynes to ensure the championship went to a biological female. The issue of trans inclusion in women's sports has become a global issue in recent years that has prompted severe backlash by women's rights groups across the West. The United Nations has said nearly 900 biological females have fallen short of the podium because they were beaten out by trans athletes. The findings were compiled by Reem Alsalem, the UN's Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, titled "Violence against women and girls in sports." The report said that more than 600 athletes did not medal in more than 400 competitions in 29 different sports, totaling over 890 medals, according to information obtained up to March 30. "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," the report said. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
