An award-winning inclusive amateur football league has suspended its fixtures after several clubs said they are boycotting the league to show support for transgender and non-binary players.

The Super 5 League in Hackney, east London, was established in 2017 and now has over 50 teams playing across seven divisions.

The league promotes itself as an environment “where women and non-binary people of all levels are welcome” and it was awarded the FA Grassroots League of the Year award in 2019 and 2020.

But the league’s commitment to inclusion has been called into question by Camden Bells FC, who said they were challenged over the eligibility of a player during their very first fixture last week.

In a statement issued on Instagram, Camden Bells said a Super 5 official told the team that due to concerns for the welfare of any future opponents, the player – who identifies as trans non-binary – should not be allowed to play in a “women’s league”.

Camden Bells, which was formed in 2021, said: “We were appalled by this conversation as this league claims to be an inclusive space – with ‘LGBTQIA+ & non-binary friendly’ plastered across their marketing materials.”

The official from Super 5 advised Hannah Thornley, the Bell’s founder, that she should consult with the Football Association to resolve the matter.

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Because Super 5 is affiliated to the Amateur Football Alliance (Amateur FA), which is itself affiliated with the Football Association and follows its rules, she contacted the Amateur FA.

The Amateur FA were “less than helpful”, according to the club.

The statement from Camden Bells said: “Every point we made was met with ‘your club is welcome to join a mixed lead’ and ‘why doesn’t your teammate join a male team?’

A post shared by Camden Bells FC (@camdenbells)

“The reasoning behind this was because players ‘could get hurt’. The Football Association believe trans-non-binary people have an ‘advantage’ and therefore it ‘isn’t safe for people to play against them’.”

Since the Camden Bells issued their statement, four further clubs have decided to boycott the Super 5, while 22 clubs in the league will attend a virtual meeting on Monday evening to discuss possible next steps.

FA rules ‘are transphobic’

Ms Thornley told Sky News that the current FA rules – which the Super 5 League is required to follow – are “very very transphobic” and the governing body should “look at the steps they take to ensure they create an inclusive grassroots sports community”.

She said: “We shouldn’t be bound to the same rules that elite sport claim they need to adhere to. If inclusion is the primary reason then people should be allowed to play freely.

A post shared by Goal Diggers FC (@goaldiggers_fc)

“The league claims to be inclusive but clearly behind it they are not because they choose to play by the FA’s rules, which in our eyes are very very transphobic.”

Ms Thornley added that leagues should put pressure on the FA to adapt its rules and said she believed the Super 5 League is “powerful enough to have those difficult discussions with the FA”.

Super 5 League apologises ‘to everyone affected’

Following the clubs’ decision to organise a boycott, the Super 5 League announced it would be suspending all fixtures as part of its “ongoing commitment to work with all teams and players to continue to provide a safe and inclusive football environment for all players”.

The league’s founder, Shahid Malji, said in a statement issued on Instagram: “The decision has not been taken lightly and is being done to ensure we can work through the current situation with the level of sensitivity, time and respect that everyone affected deserves, particularly those who are most impacted by the current governance on trans and non-binary players’ participation in amateur football.”

A post shared by Super5League (@super5league)

The league added that it fully supports the inclusion of “all trans and non-binary players” in the league and in all walks of life.

Super 5 said it was currently in talks with governing bodies “whose current code of governance does not reflect our ethos”.

A Football Association spokesperson said: “We are aware of and will look into the issues raised with both the league and affiliated County FA in order to ascertain all of the facts.

“Our current policy positioning has enabled positive outcomes for trans people and assisted in allowing participants to continue playing football either in their affirmed gender or in a safe and inclusive environment.”

Sky News has also contacted the Amateur Football Alliance for a response.

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