Trans soccer player quits after rival women’s teams refuse to play against her

A transgender woman in England has been forced to quit football after rival women’s teams refused to play against her. She’s now considering taking legal action.

“As some of you may have heard, Rossington Main Ladies FC has faced challenges from teams unwilling to play against us while I am on the field,” 30-year-old Francesca Needham wrote in a statement posted on the team’s Facebook page. “This unfortunate circumstance has prompted me to investigate pursuing a case of discrimination, as I believe it represents a breach of the code of conduct regarding diversity and inclusion, as well as safeguarding of adults in football established by both the Football Association and the Sheffield and Hallamshire Women and Girls League.”

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“Therefore, in the best interests of my club and my supportive teammates who stand beside me, I have made the decision to step down from playing football for the foreseeable future,” Needham’s statement continued. “This decision is rooted in the desire to safeguard the team and the club’s trajectory.”

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According to The Daily Mail, Needham has only played in two matches with Rossington Main Ladies FC. During one match, a player on the opposing team reportedly suffered a serious knee injury while blocking a shot by Needham. While the injured player’s manager said the injury was not the result of foul play or “intent to injure,” the BBC reports that four other teams have since refused to Rossington Main Ladies.

In a November 16 Facebook post announcing the cancellation of a November 19 match, team secretary Garth Restell asked supporters to “have the faith and confidence in the whole of RMFC that we are in unity and working hard to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

“In unity we defeate [sic] discrimination,” Restell added.

In a statement, the Football Association, the governing body overseeing the sport in England, said that it was working with Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA to resolve the situation. “This issue is complex and constantly evolving, and like many other national governing bodies in sport, we are currently reviewing our transgender policy for English football to ensure it is inclusive, fair and safe for all.”

As Sky News notes, Football Association policy states that “gender identity should not be a barrier to participation in football.” Transgender women over the age of 16 must prove their blood testosterone levels are “within natal female range for an appropriate length of time so as to minimize any potential advantage” in order to be eligible to play on women’s teams. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis, and annual checks are required.

In her statement, Needham wrote that she has “diligently met every single requirement set out by the Football Association to play.”

“I sincerely hope that this issue of perceived discrimination against me can be resolved peacefully and promptly, with the full support of the Football Association and the policies they have written and approved,” she added.