Tabloid Media: Sensationism Vs Reality

Recently, a Telegraph article* claimed that a “transgender footballer flouted a ban” by playing for a women’s club in West Yorkshire.

The headline is written to provoke fear and hostility, so….

1. This was a grassroots community club, not elite football.

The club involved (West Yorkshire Whippets) is a small, volunteer-run, inclusive women’s football club.
They are not a professional team.
They are not competing in elite or high-visibility competitions.

2. The matches were played in a junior girls’ grassroots league.

The games listed were in the Harrogate & Craven Junior Girls Football League, which operates at community level and is run by volunteers.
Although they are classed as an FA affiliated league, this is about as far from elite or competitive professional football as it gets.

3. The club openly opposed the FA’s new policy.

When the FA announced its ban on trans women playing in the female category, Whippets publicly stated their disagreement and affirmed their commitment to inclusion.

4. A lobbying group targeted the club.

The case only escalated because a group called SEEN in Sport – an organisation campaigning against trans inclusion – reported the club to the authorities.

They then provided this to the Telegraph, who framed it as a scandal.

5. The player’s involvement was public and transparent.

The Telegraph itself admits:

• the player appeared on official team sheets
• the club posted match photos publicly
• nothing was concealed

This was not a “secret breach” – it was a community club continuing its established inclusive values.

6. The FA later cancelled the player’s registration.

After SEEN in Sport complained, the FA cancelled the player’s registration.
This was an administrative response, not a disciplinary process.

7. The club appears to have withdrawn from the league.

The Telegraph reports the club withdrew from the league on the same day they were contacted by the newspaper.
This is unsurprising: small volunteer clubs often withdraw when suddenly targeted or subjected to media scrutiny.

8. No complaints from players, parents or officials were reported.

There is no evidence in the article of:

• harm
• safety concerns
• objections from teammates or opponents
• incidents in matches

• This is not a national scandal.
• It is not evidence of ‘widespread’ rule-breaking.
• It is not evidence of danger or risk.
• It shows a single inclusive grassroots club standing by its values.

Statement on Inclusion for Non-FA-Affiliated Football Clubs

Many grassroots football organisers have questions about the FA’s transgender participation rules and whether wider changes in UK equality law might impact their ability to be inclusive.

It’s important to be clear about what applies.

Non-FA-affiliated clubs are not required to follow the FA’s transgender eligibility rules.

If your club, league, or competition is not affiliated with the Football Association, then:

• You are not subject to the FA’s ban on trans women playing in the female category.
• You are not breaking rules by welcoming trans or non-binary players.
• You are not at risk of FA sanctions, points deductions, fines, or bans.
• You retain full autonomy to determine your own inclusion policies.

This includes:

• casual kickabouts
• LGBTQ+ leagues
• community teams
• five-a-side leagues
• university societies
• charity tournaments
• privately run leagues
• mixed-ability and recreational teams

If you are outside the FA’s regulatory structure, you are free to set a fully inclusive policy without breaching FA rules.

Updated EHRC guidance does not automatically force trans-exclusion.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is preparing updated guidance concerning single-sex spaces and services. To avoid confusion:

• Guidance is not legislation.
• It cannot force an organisation to exclude trans people.
• It generally outlines what is permitted, not what is required.
• Organisations can still choose the approach that best meets their community’s needs.

This means that even if the EHRC guidance discusses circumstances where exclusion may be lawful, inclusion remains fully lawful as long as it is reasonable and proportionate.

Government counsel has indicated that a rigid, blanket approach may be too simplistic.

During recent court proceedings, Zoe Leventhal KC, acting for the Minister for Women & Equalities, argued that parts of the draft EHRC guidance may have been “too simplistic,” using the example of suggesting a trans woman should never use a women’s toilet in a public space.

She suggested that such matters could be considered on a case-by-case basis, rather than through blanket exclusion.

(Note: This will be explored again in an article coming later this week from Amelia’s Angels.)

This signals that the government may support a more nuanced approach – though there is currently no definitive public statement guaranteeing discretion for organisations.

To be accurate and responsible, we should recognise the uncertainty while also affirming that nothing presently prohibits inclusive practice.

In conclusion:

• Inclusive football is not “breaking the rules.”
• Inclusive football is lawful, community-driven, and essential.