Members and supporters may recall the shocking case of FSU member and passionate Newcastle fan Linzi Smith, who’s been banned from attending games – home and away – until the 2026-27 season for the ‘crime’ of expressing her belief in the biological reality of sex on social media.
At no stage has Linzi been charged by the police with committing a criminal offence. Indeed, a complaint about her remarks was made to Northumbria Police and it decided no further action should taken. Nevertheless, Newcastle maintains she has breached its ‘trans inclusion’ policy – which is something fans are expected to comply with inside and outside the ground.
The FSU is currently helping Linzi to challenge the ban in court, but if she loses we fear Newcastle’s policy will become a blueprint for the rest of the English Football League.
That’s because Sir Keir Starmer has now resurrected the Football Governance Bill, which fell by the wayside during the last Parliament. Among the reams of red tape it will impose on football clubs is a requirement that they submit a “corporate governance statement” to the newly created Independent Football Regulator saying what action they’re taking on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
Our concern is that this requirement will normalise what has happened to Linzi Smith, with tens of thousands of fans banned from attending games simply because their political views put them at odds with their club’s EDI policy.
That’s a particular risk when Labour’s Employment Rights Bill is passed, because it imposes a legal duty on employers to take “all reasonable steps” to protect their employees from being harassed by third parties – which in the case of football clubs means an obligation to protect their staff from overhearing disagreeable opinions expressed by fans. Not just chants, but ‘inappropriate’ jokes and ‘problematic’ banter.
Once that legislation reaches the statue books, banning people like Linzi from attending games on the grounds that she could say something gender-critical that upsets a trans employee might be considered a ‘reasonable’ step.
That’s why it’s so important Linzi wins her impending legal battle. You can donate to Linzi’s crowdfunder below.
