Broadcaster says Sydney team should not field transgender players in women’s competition

Broadcaster Lucy Zelic says soccer bosses are “passing the buck” over gender eligibility regulations as a team including trans players continues to participate in a women’s competition in north-west Sydney.

A once all-conquering soccer team beaten in its latest quest for silverware should be banned from women’s competitions if fielding transgender players, the sport’s highest-profile female commentator says.

Broadcaster Lucy Zelic says a weekend defeat for the Flying Bats, who play in the North West Sydney Football competition, does not distract from a key issue the game’s world governing body is failing to address.

The Flying Bats, who won the NWSF pre-season and regular season women’s Premier League titles undefeated last year with up to five transgender players in the team, lost 4-2 to West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook in the 2025 pre-season decider.

Sports commentator Lucy Zelic says the governing body is failing to address the key issue of transgender players in women’s competitions. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Regardless of the outcome, it doesn’t prove anything,” Ms Zelic said.

“All it highlights is that we’re still having to address the fact that biological males are competing in a category that was specifically created for women and girls. That is the crux of the issue.”

Ms Zelic wrote to football’s global bosses FIFA last year, asking when the organisation would finalise its gender eligibility regulations.

FIFA had announced two years earlier it was reviewing the situation.

She told The Daily Telegraph no response was received.

“It’s not about the number (of trans women athletes),” Ms Zelic added.

“It should be a matter of none because that’s a place being taken away from a woman who should be afforded the opportunity to play in that league by virtue of her birthright.

“There are established scientific and biological differences between males and females.

“FIFA still have not developed a policy on trans inclusion in women’s sport so this is just a case of everyone continuing to pass the buck. Everyone just goes ‘too hard’.”

Flying Bats FC (red and black stripes) playing Normanhurst Eagles (blue and white) at Morrison Bay Park in Putney.

Unsanctioned footage of the weekend match was uploaded to Facebook despite ground officials requesting the videographer stop filming.

“The Flying Bats has long supported and celebrated trans and gender-diverse people participating in football, as we believe everyone should have a safe and inclusive place to play the game they love,” a club spokesman said.

“Trans women are a tiny minority of sport participants in Australia, yet are far more likely to face intimidation, degradation, vilification and harassment because of incidents like the non-consensual filming of the Beryl Ackroyd Cup final.

“We have raised our concerns with the relevant authorities and are grateful for the support that many organisations continue to show us as we stand up for our players’ rights to participate in sport free from harm and fear.”

A spokesman for the West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook club, winners of the tier one pre-season competition, said: “We are proud of the team’s win, they showcased exceptional teamwork.

“Local community sport is about bringing people together, and this match was a great example of that.

“Both teams played with passion and respect, and we’re proud of the WPHCFC girls for showing what’s possible when you commit to your goals and work as a team.

“We understand the broader issues are important and complex, we’re not here to take sides or dive into the debate.

“Our focus has and will remain on the local players and communities who have played with our club for their whole footballing journey thus far.”

A spokesman at the NWSF declined to discuss the ongoing controversies around the Flying Bats’ participation in the women’s competition, with the issue bubbling publicly for the past three years.

Originally published as Broadcaster says Sydney team should not field transgender players in women’s competition