A 17-year-old female soccer player is facing a six-match suspension by the Football Association (FA) after asking a bearded trans-identified male player if he is a man during a match.
The FA found the female player guilty of “discrimination” against transgender individuals by a national panel for daring to ask the question despite the clear unfairness of and dangers inherent in including men in women’s sports, according to The Telegraph. The Football Assocation governs the sport of soccer in the United Kingdom, setting rules and organizing matches for British athletes.
The female player, who was not named in the report, was forced to endure intense questioning for three hours by the panel via video conference. With tears in her eyes, she explained her actions.
This situation occurred after the player, who is suspected to be autistic, asked the trans-identified male player, “Are you a man?” The report noted.
“The 17-year-old cried as she was found guilty of 'discrimination' by a national serious case panel over remarks made during a match against a trans-inclusive club…Following a three-hour hearing last week in which she denied having been transphobic at what was a pre-season friendly back in July, she was banned for six matches, four of which were suspended."
This verdict kicked off a backlash among soccer fans who criticized the FA for its actions. “That hearing was branded 'farcical' by one of those present on the call…” The Telegraph reported.
The girl’s parents were also upset at the decision. “We've always taught our daughter to ask questions… She's been told and effectively sanctioned by the FA for doing so... The FA is essentially saying that no woman, when faced with what appears to be a male on the pitch, is entitled to ask a question,” her mother told Telegraph Sport.
This story draws more attention to the FA’s decision to allow men to compete in women’s soccer matches despite the fact that they could face injuries and unfair competition. One critic said the organization “has declared open season on women and girls in football with its disastrous policy, which means that no one can question a male player participating in a women’s game.”
The individual added: “How can the FA talk about a commitment to true equality in community football while undermining the rights and safety of the very players it claims to be supporting?”
In a written explanation, the girl defended her actions.
Her identity has been concealed by Telegraph Sport as she is a child and on the assessment pathway for autism. In a written statement submitted in her defence, she admitted asking a player she describes as having “a beard”: “Are you a man?”
She also admitted asking the referee for guidance about the player’s eligibility to participate in women’s football “given my concern for my safety after already suffering a number of overly physical challenges”.
But she repeatedly denied that doing so constituted transphobia, while Telegraph Sport understands the referee also heard nothing he deemed to be discriminatory.
She said in her written statement she had become “confused” about the participation of the trans player during the match in question as the latter “wore jewellery and sunglasses” and was not in opposition kit.
She added: “The moment the player clarified they were transgender [which I previously hadn’t considered], I respected their answer fully, dropped the situation and immediately shifted my focus back to the game before seeking guidance from the referee. At no point was my question meant to be hurtful or malicious as I only intended to seek clarity in an unfamiliar situation. Knowing now that the player was transgender, I understand that there were better ways to approach this question.”
She said she was then accosted during a drinks break by the opposition captain who told her she should not have an issue with playing a trans opponent.
She added: “I raised a concern about the risk of serious injury as a 17-year-old girl playing against a biological male who was much larger than me and a very physical player, which was possibly a safety issue as I did not want to get dangerously injured right before the start of the new season.
“Despite this, I made it clear that if the player met the eligibility criteria of the FA I would respect the rules and accept the risk involved in continuing to play the match. My safeguarding officer and the referee were both present for this conversation.”
Apparently, for those who buy into progressive gender ideology, it is not enough to force female athletes to compete with men who believe they are women, those who disagree must also shut up about it or be punished. This is precisely the type of environment left-wing authoritarians want to cultivate in the world of sports and elsewhere.
The fact that they would punish a 17-year-old girl simply for asking a question shows what has been clear this whole time: The pro-transing kids crowd is made up of bullies who want to force their twisted ideology on the rest of the world.
If we know anything about bullies, it is that they are cowards who will flee if there is enough resistance. In this case, it appears the FA needs more parents and athletes who are willing to stand up to those seeking to bully them into going along with their stupid and destructive agenda. Otherwise, this will just keep on happening.
