Sutton postponement over 'abundance of caution' around trans player

Sutton United's women's squad opportunity they decided to postpone past weekend's fixture against Ebbsfleet United "through an abundance of caution" pursuing nan club's signing of a transgender player.

Sunday's lucifer successful nan London & South East Regional Premier Division was postponed little than 3 hours earlier kick-off.

Sutton goalkeeper Blair Hamilton, who is openly transgender, made her debut for nan nine successful a 6-0 triumph against Haywards Heath connected 25 August.

She was signed by Sutton head Lucy Clark, who is besides transgender.

Ebbsfleet said nan lucifer was postponed arsenic Sutton were "unable to fulfil nan fixture".

Some reports person claimed immoderate of Hamilton's team-mates did not want to play alongside nan goalkeeper but nan BBC has not been capable to verify this.

Sutton told nan BBC that "a batch of misinformation has been spread" and that nan players "fully support nan head and Blair".

"Certain officials wrong nan nine thought it was champion to postpone nan crippled to cheque connected nan legalities astir nan situation, and successful bid to debar antagonistic attraction and hate," added nan club, which is successful nan 5th tier of women's shot successful England.

In a statement connected nan club's website connected Wednesday,, external Sutton said: "Following caller media reports regarding our women’s squad and a caller subordinate addition, nan committee would for illustration to return this opportunity to definitive our afloat support of Lucy Clark successful her determination to enlistee based connected ability, characteristic and committedness to nan squad - criteria that use to each players and nan values of Sutton United Football Club."

The Football Association's transgender argumentation states that English rule allows abstracted competitions to beryllium organised for men and women.

However, it states players whitethorn use to play successful a convention of their "affirmed gender" - that is, nan gender they place as, alternatively than their activity assigned astatine commencement - and each exertion will beryllium considered connected a case-by-case basis, wished by nan "safety of nan applicant and different players" and "fair competition".

Women's Rights Network said: "How agelong must women and woman footballers hold for their governing assemblage to aftermath up and extremity this outright demolition of their sport?

"We telephone connected nan FA to update its argumentation pinch clear guidelines to protect women’s football."

In 2019, Hamilton told BBC Scotland "there is perfectly nary advantage connected nan pitch" pursuing hormone therapy.

Sutton said they had followed each FA protocols and that Hamilton's engagement successful nan women's crippled is "fully compliant pinch each ineligible and regulatory guidelines".

"The wellbeing and information of each our players is of paramount value to america and it was done an abundance of be aware connected this taxable that nan determination was made to postpone nan lucifer connected Sunday," they added.

"We will not tolerate immoderate behaviour that undermines our values aliases puts anyone’s wellness aliases information successful jeopardy."

Sutton insist their early fixtures will spell up arsenic planned.

The club’s website lists Hamilton arsenic their only goalkeeper. Marni Humphries, who played successful extremity successful nan first crippled of nan season, is nary longer listed and nary specifications person been fixed connected her evident departure. The club’s reserve squad for women has nary goalkeepers listed.

In November 2023, a group of 48 MPs and 27 peers signed a missive urging nan FA to alteration its rules connected transgender inclusion to "protect women and girls" successful football.

It said nan existing rules undermined fairness successful nan women's game.

It came aft respective teams reportedly withdrew from games against a recreational broadside successful Yorkshire aft a changeable by a transgender subordinate injured an opponent.