Officials for the Football Association in England faced backlash over a new policy allowing men claiming identity as women to play against female soccer players on a “case-by-case basis.”

The policy establishes a process by which the governing body will have “ultimate discretion” over self-described transgender and nonbinary players. They must meet reduced testosterone levels, as well as partake in a required “match evaluation” to see the risk they pose to females.

“We have had a transgender inclusion policy in place since 2015 to help us support the small number of transgender women, around twenty this season, who would like to play in the grassroots game, providing it can be done without sacrificing fair and safe competition, and if they have met certain required criteria,” a spokesperson for the Football Association remarked.

The previous policy made self-described transgender soccer athletes complete hormone treatments or a gonadectomy “with results in blood testosterone within natal female range.” The organization can now overrule players who they believe pose an elevated risk to actual women.

“The principles that underpin our policy remain, however certain aspects have been updated to ensure it operates as effectively as possible for the grassroots game,” the spokesperson added.

The organization, which oversees all amateur and professional soccer in England, received a letter two years ago from forty-eight members of British Parliament, as well as twenty-seven members of the House of Lords, asking that they “protect women and girls” in the contact sport.

British lawmakers said at the time that the Football Association is willing “to issue crystal clear instructions to football clubs across the country on a whole range of different matters and yet on this issue it is turning a blind eye and is passing the buck to individual clubs and managers.”