Parent uproar over League One Women’s First Grade transgender player

Parents of women playing in an elite female soccer league say allowing transgender people to play makes the game unsafe and unfair for their daughters.

Parents of girls playing in an elite female soccer league say allowing transgender women to play makes the game unsafe and unfair after Football NSW received complaints about the issue.

The Daily Telegraph has been told numerous parents of girls playing in the League One Women’s First Grade have complained to officials about injuries and the fact the competition’s top goal-scorer this season is transgender.

The player has scored seven goals in three games but her name is not listed on any official team sheets or in results, she is entered only as “Player”.

A father of one of the girls in the state’s second-tier league told The Daily Telegraph many parents had spent a huge amount of money and time nurturing their daughters’ careers and were very concerned about injuries.

“If you can’t protect our girls, the elite competition will fall apart,” he said.

“FIFA rules are that football has to be inclusive and safe, and having biological men in the matches makes it unsafe and unfair, which is not inclusive.

“My daughter is worried about her safety in an upcoming match in April after we’ve seen what’s happened, and may pull out.”

Parents are considering taking their daughters out of the competition. Stock picture: Fotokostic

NSW soccer officials told clubs in the competition that they were signed up to an Australian Human Rights Commission inclusion policy and that all players in their league were “correctly registered” in accordance with regulations.

It is understood there are now at least five transgender females in the competition.

“Consistent with those guidelines Football NSW’s current position regarding transgender and gender diverse participants is to facilitate participation in football on the basis of gender with which the person identifies,” the body told clubs in a letter.

Officials have also told clubs to ensure spectators do not make “gestures” or commit “offensive behaviour”.

Police were called proactively to a match involving the transgender player at Concord on March 12 after receiving information a protest was planned.

“There is a systemic problem within the peak bodies as there is no way for people to raise concerns and make complaints,” Binary Australia spokeswoman Kirralie Smith said.

“Men are now taking the top spots and spaces that deserve to go to women.’’

Transgender Aussie rules player Hannah Mouncey said “anyone on the other side should not be given a voice because they make everything up” and that it was the second division in NSW, “so it isn’t even in the top league”.

“They will lie and prey off fear and should not be given a voice,” she said.

“The debate is based on politics — and the fairness and inclusion conversation went out the window years ago.”

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