The FA has come under fire over its policy on transgender players, after controversy over the inclusion of a biologically male player in a women’s game, which led the opposing side to boycott their match.
Transgender player Francesca Needham, who opponents reportedly found terrifying, has quit the team based on the incident, and said on Facebook that she hoped “the issue of perceived discrimination against me can be resolved peacefully”.
GB News’ Martin Daubney hosted a discussion on the incident, and on transgender policies in sport in general, with olympian Sharron Davies.
Martin opened the conversation: “It's not only about the risk of injury, this is about a basic fairness, isn't it? It's about denying women a place in women's sport. And how great do you think it is that at long last people are actually taking a stand and saying, no, we're not going to compete like this, it's not fair. We're going to withdraw our services. Does that give you hope?”
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies joined Martin Daubney to discuss transgender athletes
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“It really does. And you know some other really good news today, the ICC. So the International Cricket Council have said they are going to protect the women's cricket game.
“They've had a nine month consultation. Goodness knows why it takes them nine months to work out that males are stronger than females. I will never know. But they've decided they are now for safety reasons based on the science. That's a very big move!
“So any sport that now is not doing that is being negligent. So the FA is being negligent right now and if you've got a child that gets injured in football by a male, you will have a very big court case against the FA because they're not protecting their female athletes.
“And would you believe that we have 6 combat sports here in the UK, things like karate and wrestling, that still allow males to self identify into fighting females. It really is bordering on criminal to be honest with you.”
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Trans athletes are still allowed to compete in many sports
PAMartin also asked: “Do you think finally what might make the FA and other sporting bodies listen isn't about common sense, isn't about the issue of fairness, but it's the threat of lawsuits? Might they finally change tack on this issue?”
“I know and isn't that disappointing,” said Sharron. “But that's what it's actually going to take. You know that it's taking the injury of female athletes, possibly life changing injuries, maybe even someone's life.
“In certain sports you've had some serious accidents. In North America only last week a young girl lost all her teeth and part of her jaw in a hockey game. It's incredible that that's what it's taking for sports governing bodies to stand up for their female athletes.
“In this country, there's 1000 women that earn their living from sport and 11,000 men. So we already have a very small piece of the cake.
Sharron Davies claims her children's school has been targeted in the past by trans activists after she shared her views on who can compete in women's sport
PA“And we've been told to shove over, you know, for for males that feel like they are females, but they're not females, right. No matter how much they think they are, they are not.”
“Sports should actually be based on the biological reality of the sex that you are. And safety should always be put first!”
The FA responded to the controversy, saying: “We are working with Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA to find a resolution. 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."
Currently FA guidelines state that, “gender identity should not be a barrier to participation in football.”