Security guards are said to have prevented spectators, club officials and professional photographers from taking pictures or capturing footage of the winning football club Flying Bats on Sunday.
The Flying Bats are an all-inclusive football club who fielded a team in the North West Sydney Premier League featuring five transgender players.
Under Human Rights Commission guidelines, which the league’s governing body Football NSW deviates from for this grade, ‘community (grassroots) players may participate in football based on the gender with which they identify.’
However, the Flying Bats’ grand final victory over West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Football Club was overshadowed by the fact that other teams have lost to them six times – including in the semi-final – for fielding transgender players.
The Flying Bats won all 17 games they played, scoring 76 goals and conceding only eight, including the final.
The Flying Bats pose for their official team photo in their grand final victory over West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Football Club
Photographers were only allowed to take pictures with mobile phones after professional cameras were banned at the gate
A spectator named ‘David’ told Ben Fordham Live on 2GB that it was a high quality spectacle with the Flying Bats winning narrowly 5-4.
“I enjoyed the game, it was David versus Goliath,” he said.
‘It was a challenging match there and the West Pennant girls acquitted themselves very, very, very well.’
David then went on to talk about the tight security at the venue, with bags reportedly being searched and bystanders being prevented from taking photos or filming.
“One of the security officers there told me they were checking bags to make sure no one had brought a device larger than a mobile phone to film the match,” he said.
‘A guard told me that they had to ask a person who refused to open his bag to show what was in the bag so he could leave the premises. They were afraid that the person would be there without credentials.
“They severely arrested people who tried to make images, for various reasons.”
Spectators reported their bags being searched and a heavy security presence at the grand finale
A professional photographer, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that bags were checked for cameras.
‘I was surprised when I attended the match that there was an unusually high number of security personnel. I counted at least 6 Guardian Security personnel.
‘Bags were checked upon entry and no professional cameras were allowed, except for the few approved by the relevant football association, not the teams.
‘I first saw a security guard asking a young man with a regular camera to stop taking pictures. I didn’t think that was okay, but I didn’t get involved.
‘He was clearly a football fan, but of the opposing team. In addition, he was constantly being watched by security, which made the guests (West Pennant Hills) feel uncomfortable.
‘I then saw another security guard ask someone (a woman) to show him her iPhone photos, which I honestly thought was a total invasion of her privacy.
‘I saw several security guards do the same thing to at least five others and I was astonished that they would just let them do it.’
Spectators were reportedly asked by security guards to also show the images they had taken on their mobile devices
In Australia, there is no law restricting the photography of people in public spaces. However, Christie Park is owned by Ryde Council, which does have the power to ban photography on its grounds, although it is not common practice at sporting events.
The Flying Bats told Daily Mail Australia that the accreditation for photography and filming was administered by the North West Football League.
“The logistics surrounding the competition day are managed by the NWSF association. They are best placed to answer any questions regarding safety,” said a spokesperson for Flying Bats.
The North West Football League has been contacted for comment.
The Facebook group LGBTI Rights Australia previously posted a message congratulating the team shortly after they won the Beryl Ackroyd Cup, but also criticised the team fiercely.
“Transgenders have been proud members of the bats for 20 YEARS, but it took until this week for terf N@zi$ to take notice,” the post read.
‘This underlines that this is not about transgender athletes, but about the exploitation of sport for political gain.
‘Congratulations to Flying Bats Soccer Club who recently won the Beryl Ackroyd Cup! (And for all the complaining transphobes: we suggest you train a little harder.)’