UNITED KINGDOM: A transgender footballer has been banned from playing for her local women's team until two years after her gender reassignment operation.

Despite holding a UK passport and driving licence stating that she is female, Aeris Houlihan, 32, has been told by the Football Association that she can only play with men.

Ms Houlihan now faces a wait of nearly two and a half years to play competitively with other women, even though she has provided FA bosses with medical proof that her hormone levels are identical to that of a natural-born female.

Ms Houlihan said that the verdict came after the FA admitted to her that their legislation for transgender applicants is outdated.

'It's really disappointing and doesn't make any sense, I just want to play football,' Ms Houlihan said.

'It's not like I want to play for Barcelona, I just want to play for my local club.'

England fan Ms Houlihan has been on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for eight months and is due to have her operation in March next year.

She applied to the FA in June to play for Sunday League Football Team, Middleton Park Ladies FC in Leeds, and was asked to provide a doctor's letter to verify her female hormone levels.

After providing medical evidence with the backing of her hormone doctor, Ms Houlihan said she was then repeatedly ignored by the FA for five months.

Read more of the story Mail Online