Australia’s most controversial soccer team has reached the grand final after going through their season undefeated.

Sydney-based Flying Bats FC made headlines around the globe earlier this year after it was revealed that five of the team’s women’s side were made up of male-born players.

The team’s presence in the women’s competition led to complaints from club officials and parents, while high-profile figures like JK Rowling and Lucy Zelic have also criticised their participation.

2GB’s Ben Fordham also revealed that six of the team’s victories came as a result of the opposition team forfeiting, including the two semi-final fixtures that led to their progress to the final. 

Earlier this year, it was reported that sports governing bodies had told clubs that they would be punished if they forfeited their games against the Bats. 

‘Remember, it’s a women’s competition and they have five male-born players, and we have some people trying to say “it doesn’t make a difference”, really?’ he said on Thursday morning’s show. 

Zelic, a vocal critic of the team, responded to their successful season, labelling it a ‘crime against women’.

‘I think that’s a real crime against women here… it’s quite disgraceful,’ she said. 

‘The fact that these women have been rendered voiceless in this and if they do have a voice they are being punished for it, it is something that needs to be explored very deeply. 

‘Imagine having to do that as well? To reach the knockout stages of the competition… it takes some real courage in this situation to stand up and say “no, we’re not going to play”. Both Putney Rangers and Macquarie Dragons should be commended for that.’

Zelic then pointed the finger out the governing bodies for what she claimed was a dereliction of duty.

‘The people I hold accountable here, that I consider the most villainous are the national sporting organisations, the ones who haven’t yet acted to introduce policies to protect women and girls who are the real culprits and are responsible for allowing this circus act to continue,’ she added. 

‘These are the people we really need to bring to the fore here and ask them for answers. I want to know “why don’t these women’s voices matter?” it’s just not right.’

On the Flying Bats’ official website, they claim they are ‘the biggest LGBTQIA+ women’s and non-binary football club in the world’. 

Club president Jennifer Peden told Daily Mail Australia in April: ‘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. 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.

‘Trans women belong in the women’s competition because that is the gender with which they identify. 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.’

The LGBTI Rights Australia Facebook group posted a message congratulating the team shortly after they won the Beryl Ackroyd Cup and slammed critics of the side.

‘Transgender women have been proudly part of the bats for 20 YEARS, yet it took terf N@zi$ up until this week to take notice,’ the message read.

‘This underscores that the issue isn’t transgender athletes but the exploitation of sports for political gain.

‘Congratulations to the Flying Bats Soccer Club who recently won the Beryl Ackroyd Cup! (And to all the transphobes complaining, we suggest you train a bit harder).’