Transgender football players in Germany will be able to choose between men’s and women’s teams

Transgender and non-binary footballers in Germany will be able to independently choose which team – women’s or men’s – they play, according to the press service of the German Football Association (DFB).

This rule will come into effect in the 2022/23 season and will be incorporated into the DFB Laws of the Game, the DFB Youth Team Rules and the DFB Futsal Rules for the amateur level.

– Transgender players can now change teams at any time or stay on the team they were previously on. As long as sports activities while taking medication do not affect a person’s health, he can perform, so the new regulation excludes doping.

The Berlin Football Association was the first of the state associations to introduce the corresponding rule back in 2019, and since then it has been successfully applied in practice.

Experience has shown that this does not compromise the fairness of the competition. After all, all people have different physical strengths and abilities, and only they lead to success together as a team, regardless of gender, the statement says.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) on June 19 approved the standards for the participation of transgender people in their competitions – transgender athletes must complete the transition by the age of 12, their testosterone level must not exceed 2.5 nanomoles per liter. The International Football Federation (FIFA) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) have decided to revise the rules for admitting transgender people to tournaments.