Woman who opposed Football NSW’s decision to admit trans players fears hate crime allegations

By James On Apr 4, 2023

A woman who has become the face of outrage over a trans woman’s dominance in a female soccer league is being investigated by police for alleged hate crimes.

Anti-trans activist Kirralie Smith told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that she was forced to seek legal advice after becoming aware that trans activists wanted NSW police to charge her with hate crimes.

Ms Smith made waves among trans lobbyists last week when she claimed on social media that a trans woman playing in Football NSW’s League One Women’s 1st Grade had injured several players.

Anti-trans campaigner Kirralie Smith prepares to fight allegations she committed ‘hate crimes’ through her online comments about a trans soccer player

Angry parents fed up with a trans woman’s dominance in a female soccer league campaign for the league to ban trans women from female soccer teams

The trans woman, whom Daily Mail Australia would not name, currently leads the league with seven goals.

That reported Monday evening ABC Sports that Ms Smith was under investigation amid allegations that she had used multiple online platforms to stage ‘the harassment and abuse of women players and football organizations including Football NSW and Football Australia’.

Ms Smith told Daily Mail Australia her supporters had sent 12,000 emails to ‘a variety of peak bodies’ across Australia, including 2,000 directly to Football Australia.

On Friday, Football Australia announced its ‘High Performance Inclusion Policy’ after reports emerged that parents were campaigning for the New South Wales league to ban transgender women from female football teams.

The league was forced into action following allegations that the trans athlete injured an opponent’s wives in a match two weekends ago.

ABC Sport claimed at least five complaints have been made to NSW police on behalf of various people, including two that resulted in detained warrants for violence.

At least two complaints are being formally investigated by Hate Crimes NSW, while further alleged cases could be brought forward and considered under Australia’s anti-discrimination, defamation and cybercrime laws, it reported.

Sources have told ABC Sport that other registered football participants (including players, coaches and officials) who have “commented on, shared with or contributed to discriminatory posts on social media platforms” will be investigated by appropriate football authorities.

Penalties could include suspension from matches and “possible police charges,” it stated.

Anti-trans activist Kirralie Smith and her supporters have bombarded Football Australia with complaints about trans women playing the sport in female leagues

Anti-trans activist Kirralie Smith’s Facebook post sparked a firestorm of controversy

The trans woman is an active member of her community and came to Australia from the United States

WHO IS KIRRALIE SMITH?

Ms Smith is the director of the anti-trans lobby group Binary Australia.

She was previously the director of the anti-marriage equality group Marriage Alliance before it was renamed Binary Australia following the 2018 plebiscite.

She sparked outrage in the Muslim community in 2017 when she lashed out at Woolworths in a tweet.

Woolworths promotes Ramadan – otherwise known as the month of jihad. Making money promoting a barbaric, cruel and oppressive ideology,” she captioned a photo in which she wished shoppers “Happy Ramadan.”

The photo was actually taken in Coles.

Ms Smith ran as a Senate candidate in 2016 with the right-wing Australian Liberty Alliance.

Ms Smith’s online campaign to have supporters bombard Football Australia with emails has since been removed.

In a March 31 Twitter post from Ms. Smith, which received 259 likes, she again called out the competition for not addressing the issue.

Why has Football Australia ignored thousands of emails raising concerns about men in the female league? We warned that there would be injuries and that it was unfair. A man has taken first place on the leaderboard claiming girls have been injured,” she tweeted.

Just hours later, Football Australia issued a press release announcing its plans to make football ‘the most multicultural, diverse and inclusive sport in Australia’.

The policy will ensure that Football Australia provides LGBTQI+ training and support resources to the football community through its partnership with Pride in Sport.

“The aim of this training is to help the Australian football community better understand the experiences of LGBTQI+ communities and their participation in sport,” the statement said.

Days earlier, Ms Smith highlighted a transgender campaign to cancel her for speaking out about the ongoing issues.

“For expressing our legitimate concerns, we are berated, canceled and threatened by the police. Men who usurp womanhood and their handmaidens must be so proud of themselves,” she said.

Parents and players are concerned that the trans woman has a greater advantage

The trans woman is a top scorer in the league

Moira Deeming has been suspended from the Vic Libs after being falsely smeared as a Nazi and for attending Let Women Speak. I attended two events and heard heartbreaking stories from women. The only violence and harassment came from the activists and their mates.

Take note: 2023 – the year women will be silenced, cancelled, bullied, threatened and hurt for defending sex-based services and spaces for women. SHAME on all who defend such violence and misogyny. You make me sick.’

It is understood that at least five trans women are actively participating in the competition in New South Wales.

A Facebook page dedicated to discussing the NPL league exploded over the issue last week and continues to be bombarded with posts decrying the league’s decision.

Football Australia has established a Football Working Group responsible for developing its trans policy and making recommendations for adoption by Football Australia ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The working group will be made up of representatives from ‘Football Australia, Professional Footballers Australia, Australian Professional Leagues, and state Member Federations’.

The group will work with the Australian Sports Commission and various specialists and medical experts to ensure that policies are ‘based on objective and relevant information, data and criteria’.

“Football Australia’s current position, pending the development of the FWG policy and the review of Football Australia, remains to allow all players to participate in the competition that best reflects their gender identity,” it said.

HOW THE WORLD GAME TACKLES TRANS ISSUES

Last year, FIFA and World Athletics, the governing body of world football, said they were reviewing their transgender admission policies after swimming passed new rules restricting transgender participation in women’s events.

However, reports from earlier this year suggested that transgender footballers would compete in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July and August.

FIFA women’s program director Sarai Bareman told The Australian in January that three transgender players had contacted her about the review process and that she believed there were more.

“I think it’s very sensitive and we have to be very careful how we handle it. That’s something we take very, very seriously.

“And we certainly don’t want to rush it (the decision on new rules) given the impact it will have for many generations to come,” she said.

Ms Bareman said FIFA has consulted various groups, including human rights groups, non-governmental organisations, athletes and other sports, as well as the International Olympic Committee.

“We have to be very careful as you know we have 211 member associations and basically what we do seems to be a blueprint for those member associations so the consultation process is very comprehensive and we will take our time to make sure we get it right,” she said.

Australia’s Human Rights Commission shared guidelines on the inclusion of transgender people in sport in 2019, noting that ‘Transgender and gender diverse people are sometimes excluded from sport, or may experience discrimination and sexual harassment if they participate.

While some reported positive experiences with inclusion, others described how they were excluded from the sports they loved because of their gender or gender identity.

“Some talked about quitting sports during their transition journey because they were worried about how their teammates would treat them.”

The Australian Professional Association for Trans Health has not commented on the Daily Mail Australia investigation.