Legal threat to IFA bosses over trans women players
Local football chiefs face action for not banning biological males from female games
The Irish Football Association has been warned that it faces legal action for not banning those born biologically male from their female categories.
Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, now a Tory peer, and world-renowned sailor Tracy Edwards have co-signed a letter claiming the IFA is “failing to protect women and girls from transgender ideology”.
Nine other sporting bodies which have been sent letters include the Football Association of Wales, British Gymnastics and Parkrun. It comes a year after a Supreme Court ruling that only those born female should be considered women under the Equality Act.
In a statement issued to the Belfast Telegraph, the campaigners say that “while most parts of the Equality Act do not apply in Northern Ireland, the letter to the Irish Football Association explained that the For Women Scotland ruling is still binding across the UK”.
Baroness Davies said they were putting the IFA and the nine others “under notice to act”, warning: “If they don’t do the right thing, we will not hesitate to pursue all legal options. It is a scandal that men are still allowed to compete against women in sport, a year after the Supreme Court ruling.”
The Irish Football Association is among 10 sports bodies in the UK being threatened with legal action for not placing a ban on those born biologically male from their female categories, as it’s claimed they are “failing to protect women and girls from transgender ideology”.
Aletterco-signedbytheformerolympic swimmer Sharron Davies, a Tory peer, and the world-renowned sailor Tracy Edwards MBE has been sent to the IFA, a year after a Supreme Court ruling that only those born female should be considered women under the Equality Act.
The case was successfully taken by the group For Women Scotland.
Other sporting bodies which have been sent letters include the Football Association of Wales, British Gymnastics and Parkrun. The correspondence states that: “Any governing body that continues to permit biological males to compete in the female category contravenes the Equality Act 2010 as interpreted by the Supreme Court.
“This exposes the organisation to immediate and substantial legal liability. The Football Association, Scottish FA, Rugby Football Union and England and Wales Cricket Board have already taken action to protect their female categories.”
In a statement issued to the Belfast Telegraph, the campaigners say that “while most parts of the Equality Act do not apply in Northern Ireland, the letter to the Irish Football Association explained that the For Women Scotland ruling is still binding across the UK”.
That letter states: “The judgment is at the very least ‘highly persuasive’ in interpreting Northern Ireland’s unique equality legislation and the IFA has a legal obligation to protect women’s sport categories.”
It also points to “safeguarding risks” of allowing males to use female changing rooms and warns about discrimination claims by female athletes whose “opportunities and achievements are displaced or diminished”, as well as “increased insurance and tort liability from elevated injury risk”. The letter concludes: “If active steps are not taken to ensure that the issues raised in this correspondence are satisfactorily resolved, and women and girls engaging with your organisation remain exposed to these risks even in light of the clarified legal position, we reserve the right to take further steps, including litigation, to protect their interests.
“Biological sex is not a negotiable category; it is the essential foundation for safeguarding women and girls and preserving fair competition.” Sharron Davies, who won silver at the 1980 Olympics, and Tracy Edwards are co-founders of the Women’s Sports Union, set up to “support, protect and grow female participation in sport”.
Baroness Davies said they were putting the IFA and nine other sporting bodies “under notice to act”, warning: “If they don’t do the right thing, we will not hesitate to pursue all legal options.
“It is a scandal that men are still allowed to compete against women in sport, a year after the Supreme Court ruling.
“Failing to protect women’s sport from males who claim to be female eradicates fairness in competition and presents extreme safeguarding concerns, all in the name of a false ideology.
“Some organisations have acted to protect sport at elite level, while allowing men to compete against women at amateur level. This is unacceptable — all women who play sport must be able to do so in a safe and fair environment.
“I have heard horror stories from parents whose girls have been exposed to inappropriate and harmful situations, due to the failure to protect female sport categories and changing facilities. All sports bodies must act now to stop the risk of these terrible situations happening again.”
Tracy Edwards, who skippered Maiden, the first all-female crew to sail around the world, said: “When I stood outside the Supreme Court on 16 April 2025 as For Women Scotland won their case confirming the meaning of ‘woman’ in the Equality Act 2010 is defined as ‘biological sex’, I celebrated the return of sanity.
“Little did I know that a year later we would still be fighting for the female category in sport.
“Sharron and I set up the Women’s Sports Union to ‘support, protect and grow female participation in sport’ but we knew that getting males out of the female category would be job number one.”
In response to questions from the Belfast Telegraph about the letter, the IFA said: “We are committed to taking the necessary steps to fulfil our legal obligations and will take any further guidance from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.”
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland said: “It is likely the Irish Football Association will have a range of factors to consider, and the commission can provide specific advice to the IFA regarding their obligations under Northern Ireland equality law.”