A Spanish women’s soccer club, Club Esportiu Europa, has faced backlash after fielding two transgender players who are transitioning from female to male in a Catalan women’s league match. The players, Alex Alcaide Llanos and Nil Alcon Labella, were criticized by a local councilor who accused them of having an unfair advantage with their beards evident on the pitch.
Both players are currently banned from playing in the men’s league until they complete their medical transitions. Llanos has been undergoing hormone treatment for at least five years, while it is unclear when Labella started transitioning. Llanos scored one of the winning goals during the match, leading to further controversy.
The club defended its decision to include the transgender players in the team, emphasizing its commitment to inclusivity and condemning transphobic violence. They highlighted their values of sportsmanship, fair play, and compliance with current sporting regulations.
Llanos, who uses male pronouns, has been open about his transition in interviews, stating that he plays in the category corresponding to his registered gender on his ID card. He expressed that if he ever felt he had an advantage over other players, he would step aside.
The situation has sparked a debate around inclusion, fairness, and transgender rights in sports, with the club remaining steadfast in its support of the transgender players and their right to participate in the sport they love.
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