Women's soccer team that fielded five trans players and trounced the opposition reveals they've been putting biological men on the field for 20 years as officials hold crisis meeting following row

The women's football team at the centre of a transgender row have confirmed they have been fielding biological men for the past 20 years.

Flying Bats FC won every game they played over the course of the Beryl Ackroyd Cup, a pre-season tournament in Sydney, Australia, winning the grand final 4-0 at Macquarie Park on Sunday to take home the $1000 jackpot.

There were huge winning margins in some games, with one trans player scoring six goals in a 10-0 victory.

Parents and club officials have expressed their concern with the Bats' participation in the competition, with some withdrawing their daughters from games while others have called for the team to play in the mixed competition.

In response, Flying Bats club president Jennifer Peden has told Daily Mail Australia that 'trans women belong in the women's competition' and revealed that trans women have been playing for the club for at least 20 years.

'Trans women belong in the women’s competition because that is the gender with which they identify,' she said. 

'Trans women have played with the club for at least 20 years, at levels ranging from beginner to skilled, just like our cis women players. 

'Our players are graded on ability, and placed in the team that is most appropriate for their skill and experience level, and we look forward to a respectful, competitive season across our 8 teams in 2024.'

Peden stressed the importance of inclusivity in sport, highlighting the multitude of benefits that comes with playing at all levels. 

'As a club, the Flying Bats FC stand strongly for inclusion, and pride ourselves on safe, respectful and fair play, the promotion of a supportive community for LGBTQIA+ players, officials and supporters, and the significant physical, social and mental health benefits that participation in sport brings, especially to marginalised members of the LGBTQIA+ community,' she added. 

'We are a club that values our cisgender and transgender players equally.

'We strongly support the Australian Human Rights Commission’s guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport. 

'These guidelines, along with the Sex Discrimination Act, inform the gender inclusion policies of Football Australia, Football NSW, and the North West Sydney Football Association at the community, grassroots level at which we play.'

Peden's comment comes after reports of an 'emergency meeting' about the subject of transgender players in female competitions was held by the North West Sydney Football Association.

According to News Corp, officials expressed concern about the potential of serious injuries to players.

Peden was reportedly at the meeting. 

A Football NSW spokesperson said on Wednesday that the organisation takes 'pride in being at the forefront of developing inclusive policies for the sport in Australia and operates within the existing legal framework, including anti-discrimination legislation'. 

'Football NSW continues to align with Football Australia's adoption of the Australian Human Rights Commission's Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport', under which, community players are permitted to participate in Football on the basis of the gender with which they identify,' the spokesperson said.

The Australian Sports Commission's statement on trans and gender diverse inclusion reads: 'All Australians should have the opportunity to be involved in sport and physical activity, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ability, cultural background or ethnicity. 

'It is important that sporting bodies, from local clubs through to national sporting organisations, reflect the diversity in the communities they are a part of, and that together, we ensure every person is treated with respect and dignity and protected from discrimination.'