Trans players must be BANNED from women's football demand MPs as FA blasted for lack of action
A detailed view of the rainbow corner flag prior to the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Reading Women and Chelsea Women
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Almost 50 MPs have called for the FA to ban trans players from participating in women's football.
Miriam Cates, the Tory MP for Penistone & Stocksbridge, sent a letter accusing the FA of turning a "blind eye" on the issue.
It also suggested England's football body passed the buck to "individual clubs and managers" instead of issuing clear instructions.
The letter said: "We therefore ask that, without further delay, the FA acts to protect women and girls' football by banning all natal males from playing in women's teams."
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It added: "It has been wonderful to watch the success of the Lionesses and the growing popularity of the women's game, but continued success depends on women being able to compete safely and fairly at all levels of the game.
"We cannot ask women and girls to give up places on football teams and in competitions that should rightfully be theirs."
The letter also referred to a recent incident where a female football player suffered a serious knee injury while blocking a shot from transgender player Francesca Needham.
It led to at least four other clubs in the Sheffield and Hallamshire Women's Football League refusing to play Rossington Main because of the 30-year-old's presence.
Needham later said she was leaving the side and was considering legal action – citing the FA's policy.
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She wrote on social media: "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."
A total of 48 MPs in the House of Commons and 27 peers in the House of Lords signed the letter.
Signatories include former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, ex-Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Labour MP Rosie Duffield.
The inclusion of transgender athletes in women's events is one of the most contentious and divisive issues in sport with World Athletics and World Aquatics among global federations that have tightened their rules.
World governing body FIFA is also reviewing its transgender eligibility policies.
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The FA allows players above the under 16 level to apply to participate in teams of their preferred gender.
The rule is "subject to the approval of the FA on a case-by-case basis".
However, there is no gender-related restriction on players in the under 16 range.
LGBT+ advocacy groups have claimed that excluding trans athletes amounts to discrimination.
Critics of including transgender athletes in female sports argue going through puberty brings a huge physical advantage.