Fenix FC has made history by debuting as Spain’s first all-transgender men’s football team in a regional league, marking a significant milestone for inclusivity in European sports. Overcoming administrative hurdles and societal prejudice, Fenix FC has achieved federated status, allowing them to compete in the fifth tier of the men’s league in Catalonia.
Named after the mythical phoenix, which symbolizes rebirth, Fenix FC spent last season participating in friendlies and seven-a-side games before officially joining the league. The team affiliates with a local club based in the Barcelona suburb of Sant Feliu de Llobregat.
Last year, Spain enacted a groundbreaking trans rights bill designed to simplify the legal gender identity change process. However, challenges remain, as evidenced by a troubling rise in discrimination against the LGBT community. In Catalonia alone, the regional Observatory against LGBTphobia reported a record 302 cases of discrimination or violence in 2023, with 25% of these incidents specifically targeting transgender individuals.
Hugo Martinez, a 24-year-old member of Fenix FC, shared his experiences of abuse during his transition and described the difficulties he faced when he had to leave the women’s soccer team he had played on due to his gender identity. “I was a boy playing in the girls’ team, but without a changed ID, I wasn’t yet allowed to play with boys.” He recounted, detailing the insults and threats he endured from other players and their families.
This adversity spurred Martinez to reach out online, seeking other trans men interested in creating a supportive soccer environment, which culminated in the establishment of Fenix FC—a process that took three years.
The team’s captain, Luke Ibanez, 19, expressed his initial hesitance about joining a team with cisgender players, fearing he wouldn’t fit in or might face violence. However, upon learning about Martinez’s vision for an all-trans team, he embraced the opportunity. “Fenix is a team of trans boys created entirely by trans boys, but I think it’s more than that—it’s a family, a safe space where you can be free and express yourself however you want and how you really feel,” he said.
In an effort to promote inclusivity, the Catalan Football Association has implemented mixed leagues for the past two seasons, allowing players of any gender to participate regardless of their legal identity. Players can also choose to use names different from their legal ones. While some regional football associations have imposed limitations on these adjustments, Fenix FC continues to champion the rights of trans individuals in sports.
Fenix FC’s first game of the season on September 21 ended in a challenging 19-0 defeat. However, for the players and supporters, the significance of being able to play their beloved sport on equal terms far outweighs the scoreline. The debut of Fenix FC stands as a beacon of hope and progress in the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance within the sporting world.
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