New rules for gender-diverse players in Belgian football

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has revised its rules for gender-diverse players to offer "transparency, perspective and protection" and ensure fairness in women's leagues.

The RBFA has decided to make men's football an open category where everyone is welcome, regardless of their sex or gender identity. To join the women's leagues, gender-diverse players will need to request permission.

"All footballers who have changed their legal gender or have started transitioning will have to notify the association"

Gender-diverse people will be able to play in men's recreational leagues without explicit permission. Women's recreational football, on the other hand, will remain exclusively for women and trans people who have been given permission to join. 

Both trans women who want to join women's leagues and trans men who want to continue playing in them will have to seek permission. "Concretely, all footballers who have changed their legal gender or have started transitioning will have to notify the association," the RBFA said.

Permission can be granted "following an interview with a doctor and the association's integrity officer"

Permission to join women's leagues can be granted for six or 12 months "following an interview with a doctor and the association's integrity officer", said the RBFA.

"We are very proud of this framework," said Nand De Klerck, spokesperson for Voetbal Vlaanderen, Flanders' amateur club federation. The rules "provide transparency, perspective and protection to gender-diverse people who are eager to join a club" and "ensure a fair and safe environment in women's soccer", De Klerck said. ​ 

 ^{© BELGA PHOTO LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ}