The football stazi

The Daily Mail reports:

A football fan has been banned from matches until 2026 after Premier Leagueconducted a ‘secretive’ four-month ‘Stasi’ probe into her social media posts that criticised transgender ideology.

Linzi Smith, a Newcastle United supporter, was investigated by a special unit set up to expose racism in the game, after she expressed strong views on trans ideology on the social media platform ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter.

The 34-year-old, who is gay and champions lesbian, gay and bisexual rights, was later presented with a 11-page dossier — compiled by the Premiere League — which included details of where she lives, works and even where she walked her dog. 

This wasn’t about anything she had done at a game. This is them investigating her views on social media, and on that basis deciding she must be banned.

In October, Newcastle United emailed Ms Smith to inform her that she was being investigated by Northumbria Police for a possible hate crime offence and that her membership had been suspended.

It is understood that Ms Smith had not done anything to offend anyone during a match, inside the stadium or involving the club.

Days after, Ms Smith was visited by two police officers at her home and she agreed to be interviewed under caution about her tweets for 25 minutes.

Two hours later, she received a call from police to inform her that no further action would be taken as she had not committed any offence.

Ms Smith appealed her ban but was told on January 26 that it had been upheld because her tweets ‘constitute harassment’ and go against the club’s Equality Policy. 

Imagine if a football club banned someone because they tweeted pro-Marxist views!