FA's ban on transgender women playing in women's football begins

Billie Sky has just helped her team to promotion but now she cannot play for them again.

Sky 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 football.

Following 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 levels.

The 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 She will still be able to play informally for her other - Goal Diggers FC - as the club has withdrawn from all FA-affiliated leagues in response to the new policy.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 ban.

Most 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 anonymously.

Georgie (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.

Click here to read article