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FA rule E20 states clubs are responsible for ensuring their supporters "refrain from improper conduct", which includes "a reference, whether express or implied to any one or more of the following: ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or disability".

But despite earning a modest income, she helped pay for her daughter's gender reassignment, in part by selling some of her jewellery, and cared for her afterwards.

People who use it can also access other services such as hormone treatment and mental health services, but those approved for gender reassignment must travel outside Northern Ireland because there is no surgical service here.

Then the Equality Act of 2010 came along to set out legal protections against discrimination for specific groups - with “sex”, "sexual orientation" and “gender reassignment” included as protected characteristics.

That law’s definition of “woman” included people who were “living as a woman” and were currently or proposing to undergo the gender reassignment process.