Martina Navratilova goes for Gary Lineker after girl suspended for question to trans footballer
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has challenged Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker to address the contentious issue of transgender participation in women’s football on his podcast.
The nine-time Wimbledon champion’s challenge came after Lineker took to X (formerly Twitter) seeking questions for his podcast, The Rest Is Football.
The debate has reignited following a controversial case where a teenage footballer faced disciplinary action for questioning a transgender opponent’s gender.
Lineker had posted: “If you have a question for @alanshearer, @MicahRichards and me for @RestIsFootball episode, ask away by replying to this post, please. We’d love to hear from you. Cheers.”
I have a question- do you think males who identify otherwise should be able to play football on women’s teams?
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) November 10, 2024
A 17-year-old female footballer received a ban from the sport after questioning whether a transgender adult opponent was a man.
The Football Association’s national serious case panel found the teenager guilty of discrimination for asking the question.
The panel imposed a six-match ban, with four matches suspended.
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This case has brought the ongoing debate about transgender participation in women’s football back into the spotlight.
Navratilova directly challenged Lineker by asking: “I have a question. Do you think males who identify otherwise should be able to play football on women’s teams?”
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies joined the debate, questioning: “So Gary should males be allowed to steal places from females in women’s football as well as increasing risk of injury to the opposition’s female players?”
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Developmental biologist Emma Hilton added pressure, writing: “Women have been carrying this for years. Trying to have a voice, trying to get people to hear. Why aren’t you speaking up for girls and women?”
Hilton further noted: “It’s hard to see, the hero men of our football history, just struck dumb by this.”
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Navratilova has been vocal about her stance on women’s sports and participation from transgender athletes, particularly ahead of this year’s Wimbledon.
“It’s been pretty rough but I know I’m on the right side of history,” she stated regarding women’s sex-based spaces and sports.
She criticised the politicisation of women’s rights, saying: “It’s become very political when it shouldn’t be when it comes to women’s rights. We seem to put trans rights ahead of women’s rights, particularly for males that identify as women.”
The tennis champion emphasised that while women are asked to be inclusive, “by including transgender-identified males in women’s sports, you’re excluding women.”
