Scotland’s only transgender football player is feeling pretty gutted after the Scottish Football Association (SFA) decided to ban non-biological females from the game. The decision was made on Tuesday, causing a stir in the football community.
The SFA’s ruling came after the Supreme Court’s recent decision that defined women based on biology. This change now means that any transgender women hoping to play competitive women’s football will no longer be able to do so.
Jasmine Angove, who played for Edinburgh Uni Thistle in the fifth tier of the SWPL last season, expressed her shock and disappointment at the news. She won’t be able to continue playing for her club under the new regulations.
“It’s a bit of a blow to me, to be honest,” Angove shared with STV News. “I really enjoy playing football at a competitive level and now I won’t have that opportunity anymore. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Despite being unable to play this season due to a knee injury, Angove runs Gender Goals, which is Scotland’s first trans and non-binary football club. Football means the world to her, so this decision has hit her hard.
“I’m not really sure why this matters, but can you think of a top trans footballer? It’s me,” Angove stated. “I’m in the fifth tier, always getting injured, but it’s never been a big deal until now.”
The ban has left Angove feeling anxious and sick. She emphasized that she lives for the game and not being able to play has taken a toll on her mental well-being.
“I can’t wrap my head around it. I’m filled with anxiety, feeling sick to my stomach,” Angove shared. “Football is my passion, and now it’s been taken away from me. It’s a hard pill to swallow, really.”
Angove supported the previous regulations that required trans players to undergo hormone therapy before participating in women’s football. She believes the SFA’s decision is based on fear rather than science.
“The old rules made sense, and I was on board with them,” Angove explained. “But now, it seems like they’ve caved to fear instead of sticking to the facts.”
The SFA’s handbook states that all players in a match must be of the same gender, with the exception of games involving players under 15 years old. This means that trans players could previously participate in women’s football on a case-by-case basis with regular testosterone level monitoring.
The SFA’s rule change has come as a shock to many in the football community, especially to those directly affected by it. The decision has sparked debates about inclusivity and fairness in the sport, leaving players like Angove feeling heartbroken and disappointed.
Despite the setback, Angove remains hopeful that the SFA will reconsider its decision and find a way to accommodate transgender players in the future. Only time will tell if there will be a change of heart within the governing body, but for now, the future of transgender players in Scottish women’s football remains uncertain.
