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The topic of transgender athletes has long been discussed, especially in relation to swimmer Lia Thomas. At the same time, transgender athletes are such a minority group that, especially in team sports, no official statement has been issued. The first to come up with something like this was the FA:

• FA Implements Ban on Transgender Women in Women's Football: Effective June 1, 2025, the Football Association (FA) will prohibit transgender women from participating in women's football across all levels in England, including amateur leagues.
• Policy Change Prompted by Supreme Court Ruling: This decision follows an April 16, 2025, UK Supreme Court ruling that legally defines "woman" under the Equality Act as a biological female, compelling the FA to revise its inclusion policies to align with the law
• Previous Inclusion Policy Overturned: The FA's earlier policy allowed transgender women to play in women's leagues if they met specific criteria, such as maintaining reduced testosterone levels for a designated period.
• Approximately 20 Amateur Players Affected: Currently, around 20 transgender women are registered in English grassroots football; the FA is reaching out to these individuals to explain the changes and discuss alternative ways to remain involved in the sport.
• Broader Impact on Sports and Public Spaces: The Supreme Court ruling has broader implications, influencing policies in other sports and public facilities, with organizations like the Equality and Human Rights Commission updating guidelines to reflect the legal definition of sex.
• Mixed Reactions to the Decision: The policy change has elicited varied responses, with some advocating for fairness in women's sports supporting the move, while transgender rights groups express concern over exclusion and discrimination.

For more detailed information, you can read the full article here: Sky Sports Article.

• Lucy Bronze's late header in 74th minute secured a 1-0 win over Manchester United, sealing Chelsea’s sixth consecutive Women’s Super League (WSL) title.
• New manager Sonia Bompastor remains unbeaten in the WSL this season, continuing Emma Hayes’ legacy with a strong defensive performance and mental resilience.
• With the League Cup already secured and an FA Cup final against United in May, Chelsea are chasing a historic domestic treble with already winning the Subway Women's League cup and playing the FA cup finale in May.

Read the full article on BBC Sports

• FIFA-Funded Study on Menstrual Cycle and ACL Injuries: FIFA is financing a groundbreaking study at Kingston University to explore the potential link between hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among female soccer players.
• Research Leadership and Methodology: The study is led by PhD student Blake Rivers and a team of sports science experts. It involves collecting and analyzing blood samples and physical performance data from elite and grassroots footballers, including players from Chelsea and Fulham, over the course of a year.
• Focus on Hormonal Impact: Researchers aim to identify phases of the menstrual cycle that may increase injury risk by examining hormone levels—specifically oestrogen and progesterone—and their effect on ligament laxity and neuromuscular response during activities like landing after headers and rapid directional changes.
• Goal of Personalized Training: The ultimate objective is to develop individualized training adaptations to reduce injury risk, potentially allowing coaches to tailor training and injury prevention strategies according to athletes’ menstrual cycle phases.
• Context of Rising ACL Injuries: The study comes in response to a notable increase in ACL injuries among high-profile female soccer players, such as Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, and Sam Kerr, highlighting the urgency of this research.
• Potential for Broader Impact: If successful, the findings could inform training protocols and injury prevention strategies not only in soccer but across various sports, contributing to improved athlete health and performance.

For more detailed information, you can read the full article here: FIFA funds study looking into correlation between menstrual cycle and ACL injuries.

The seventeenth week of 2025 brought a lot of things you definitely shouldn't miss. The Bundesliga title is decided, the Champions League knows its finalists and the transfer window is slowly approaching. Here are the 5 most important things you shouldn't miss. 

• Inter Milan made history with qualified for the Champions League for the first time
• Meet The Northern Super League. Canada starts its first professional women's football league
• Bayern become Bundesliga champions for the seventh time
• We already know the finalists of the Champions League
• Which clubs will participate in the new competition called World Sevens Football?

On Sunday 27 April, the two final rounds of the Champions League semi-finals were played to decide the finalists.

The first match of the day was played at Chelsea's home ground who were looking to avenge their 4-1 defeat to Barcelona last week. The Blues unfortunately had a bad start to the game, as Aitana Bonmati opened the scoring in the 25th minute, with Ewa Pajor and Claudia Pina adding to the tally before the end of the half.

Chelsea were not helped by the home ground or the change of sides. Salma Paralluelo added to the score at the end of regulation time. In injury time Wieke Kaptei reduced the deficit, but it didn't help Chelsea. Even the purchase of spring signings did not guarantee them the dream Champions League final and they will say goodbye in the semi-finals. Barcelona will play the Champions League for the fifth time with an overall record of 8:2.

Arsenal did not enter the game in Lyon as favourites. They came away from the Emirates with a 2-1 defeat. But their hopes came alive in the opening minutes of the match when the Canaries got their blood pumping from a corner kick. After goals from Caldentey, Russo and Foord, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that Arsenal were heading to Lisbon. In the 81st minute, Dumornay reduced the deficit for the home team, but this did not threaten the London club's victory.

Arsenal managed to turn the game around in the second leg for the second time in a row and after 18 years they will play the Champions League final as the only English club so far.

The final between Barcelona and Arsenal will be played on 24 May in Lisbon. 

The FC Bayern Munich women's team won their seventh German Bundesliga title in the 2024/25 season. They began the season strongly, defeating Turbine Potsdam 2–0 on 30th August, with Swedish international Linda Sembrant scoring both goals. Shortly after, they secured the Supercup title with a 1–0 win over VfL Wolfsburg. Their impressive form continued with a 6–2 victory against RB Leipzig, marking their 41st consecutive unbeaten league match—a new club and league record. A notable comeback occurred against Bayer Leverkusen, where goals from Sarah Zadrazil, Georgia Stanway, and young rising star Alara Şehitler led to a 3–2 win, reclaiming the top spot in the league.

Despite a challenging period in November with two draws, the team regained momentum with a 1–0 win over Werder Bremen, thanks to a goal by Pernille Harder. A significant 4–0 away victory against Eintracht Frankfurt further solidified their lead. The championship was clinched with a 3–1 home win over SC Freiburg, featuring goals from Lea Schüller, Pernille Harder, and Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir. This triumph marked their third consecutive league title and the seventh in the club's history. The season also marked the end of Alexander Straus's tenure as head coach, as he departs for Angel City FC in the USA. The team now aims for their first-ever double, facing Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal final on May 1st.

Although the Bayern players are certainly disappointed to be eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals, they have had an amazing season. It is worth mentioning the amazing return of goalkeeper Mala Grohs, who is already catching again. In November, she announced the interruption of her career due to a tumour. 

Manchester City forward Lauren Hemp is making a strong comeback after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined her since November 2024. She underwent successful surgery and has been working closely with the club's medical team during her rehabilitation. Hemp's return is timely, as Manchester City faces a challenging period with several key players, including Mary Fowler and Vivianne Miedema, currently out due to injuries.

According to City’s interim boss, Nick Cushing, Hemp should be in the squad for match against Leicester City on 27th April. The 24 years old have been out since November so she missed out most of the Champions League matches. 

Manchester United will play in a new women’s seven-a-side football tournament called World Sevens Football. The event will take place in Portugal from May 21 to 23. In addition to the Red Devils, the participation of other big teams like Bayern Munich, Ajax, and Benfica is also confirmed. It is not yet clear which clubs will complete the squad, but English clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City have expressed interest, as well as Angel City from the American NSWL. This fast-paced tournament has a $5 million prize pool, and games will be 30 minutes long with 14-player squads.

The format is designed to be fun and less physically demanding than full-season leagues.However the Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman have warned about the already busy match calendar