Teenage Footballer Cerys Vaughan Wins Six-Game Ban Appeal With Free Speech Union Support Amid FA Gender Policy Debate

7 posts • GPT (4.1 mini)

Updated May 10, 2025, 10:50 AM

Cerys Vaughan, a 17-year-old footballer, has won an appeal against the Football Association (FA) after being banned for six games following a disciplinary panel ruling that found her guilty of transphobia. The ban was imposed after Vaughan asked a bearded transgender opponent during a women's football match, "Are you a man?" The FA's case against her was dismissed due to what was described as a flawed and unfair process. Vaughan, supported legally by the Free Speech Union (FSU), has called for an apology from the FA for their handling of the case. The incident has sparked debate over the FA's gender policy and raised concerns about the treatment of players questioning transgender participation in women's sports.

The case has drawn attention in the House of Lords, where FSU General Secretary Lord Young of Acton sought an apology from the FA through Baroness Smith. Vaughan has also stated she will continue to refer to her transgender opponent using male pronouns, reflecting her view of the situation during the match. The case has been covered by major media outlets, highlighting the ongoing controversy surrounding transgender inclusion in sports.

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Sonia Sodha

@soniasodha

Two thoughts on this interview with Cerys Vaughan, the teenager on whom the FA imposed a 6 match ban for querying the inclusion of male player in a women's match. i Wow, completely and utterly blown away by her ii The @FootballAssoc is truly appalling.

Rosie Duffield MP

@RosieDuffield1

'She also makes no apology for referring to her “bearded” accuser as “he” and not “she”. “He might be offended. But I think, on the day, when we were playing, all I remember is, there was a man on the team. And, so, that’s how I’m going to refer to him...”

The Free Speech Union

@SpeechUnion

Cerys Vaughan, the teenage footballer banned for asking a trans opponent “Are you a man?”, has won her appeal. The FSU supported her throughout — funding her legal team and helping overturn the FA’s flawed decision. Read her Telegraph interview here:

Dan Roan

@danroan

Footballer banned over comment to transgender opponent wants FA apology. In her 1st broadcast interview since her case sparked debate over the FA’s gender policy, Cerys Vaughan tells me about her successful appeal & says case has “impacted” her life.

Daily Mail Online

@MailOnline

Teenage girl footballer banned by FA for asking transgender opponent 'are you a man?' demands apology after sport's bosses dropped the case

#Cerys Vaughan #Football Association #FA #Vaughan #Free Speech Union #FSU #House of Lords #Young #Acton #Smith

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Sources

telegraph.co.uk(2)freespeechunion.org dailymail.co.uk bbc.com

The Free Speech Union

@SpeechUnion

Daily Mail Online

@MailOnline

Teenage girl footballer banned by FA for asking transgender opponent 'are you a man?' demands apology after sport's bosses dropped the case

The Free Speech Union

@SpeechUnion

Earlier this week, FSU General Secretary Lord Young of Acton asked Baroness Smith in the House of Lords whether she would invite the FA to apologise to teenage FSU member Cerys. Here’s how she responded...