A girls football player with suspected autism risks a suspension of up to twelve matches for asking an adult transgender opponent: “Are you a man?”
In the latest case to raise major questions about the Football Association’s continued failure to ban boys born male from women’s football, the 17-year-old has been left distraught as she has been charged by her provincial FA over a comment during a match against a football association. trans-inclusive club.
She was accused last month of saying, “Are you a man?”, “That’s a man,” “Don’t come here again,” or similar comments during a friendly match in July.
In documents seen by Telegraph Sport, the girl admits asking a player she describes as having “a beard”: “Are you a man?” She also admits that she asked the referee for advice on the player’s suitability to participate in women’s football “given my concerns for my safety having already undergone a number of excessive physical challenges”.
But she has denied that this constituted transphobia and that she had made any comments that could be interpreted as such, while Telegraph Sport understands that the referee also did not hear anything that he considers discriminatory.
The girl was charged after the opposition club filed a complaint through Kick It Out, English football’s anti-discrimination watchdog, which included testimonies from the trans player and that team’s captain accusing her of persistent transphobia.
She faces a six- to 12-match ban if found guilty at a hearing later this month. She and her mother have decided to speak out about her plight because they feel they have no choice.
Telegraph Sport has agreed to conceal her identity because she is a child and on the autism assessment pathway. It is also a common characteristic that people with autism have difficulty recognizing their gender.
In a written statement submitted in her defence, the girl stated that she had become “confused” about the trans player’s participation in the match in question because the latter was “wearing jewelry and sunglasses” and was not in the opposition’s kit.
She added: “The moment the player clarified that he was transgender (which I had not previously considered), I fully respected their response, dropped the situation and immediately shifted my focus back to the game before seeking help at the referee. At no time was my question intended to be hurtful or malicious, as I simply wanted to seek clarity in an unfamiliar situation. Now that I know the player was transgender, I understand there were better ways to approach this question.”
She said she was then approached during a drinks break by the opposition captain, who told her she should have no problem playing a transgender opponent.
She added: “I have raised concerns about the risk of serious injury if a 17-year-old girl plays against a biological male who is much bigger than me and a very physical player, which may have been a safety issue as I did not want to be flat become dangerously injured before the start of the new season. Despite this, I have made it clear that if the player met the FA’s eligibility criteria, I would respect the rules and accept the risk associated with continuing to play the match. My security officer and the referee were both present during this conversation.”
She said she was “truly disheartened that these allegations have been made against me,” stressing: “I have always supported and respected the diversity within my team, including those who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community.”
The girl’s mother told Telegraph Sport that none of her daughter’s teammates had been approached to make statements but that they were “100 percent behind her”.
She said the trans woman questioned by her daughter was one of two opponents who appeared to have been born male.
She revealed that she contacted the provincial FA after the friendly to express her concerns about the duo’s participation as the two clubs were also in the same competition. “They’ve clearly both gone through full male puberty, so they’re bigger, faster and stronger in every way than the girls they’re playing against.”
She said a long-term ban could sideline her for the entire season, something she called “hugely unfair”, adding: “I’m just furious, but overall I’m furious about this whole issue.”
She blamed the FA’s failure to ban born men from women’s football for what happened, and said her daughter was also “reasonably willing to take a stand”, adding: “She’s not prepared to accept this. Even at seventeen, she is brave enough to stand up.”
The club that filed the complaint against her has been contacted for comment. The provincial FA said it was “aware of the incident”, adding: “However, we cannot comment as this incident is part of an ongoing investigation. The matter will be heard by a National Serious Case Panel in due course.”
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