‘The game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged’: a comparative analysis of the 1921 English Football Association ban on women's football in Britain and Ireland

On 5 December 1921, the English Football Association (FA) implemented a ban on affiliated clubs allowing women’s teams to use their grounds and of FA registered referees, thus undermining restricting game. The claimed that football was unsuitable for women it should not be encouraged. 2021 also marks 50 years since UEFA directed its members recognise football. has been well documented; however, experience by conflated with rest Britain Ireland. This article examines impact, had in these regions. It explores if similar introduced four other British Irish governing bodies (Scottish Association, Welsh Ireland formerly Free State) what impact this there.