Newcastle United ends ban on gender-critical fan Linzi Smith who was barred for social media posts

Ms Smith is gay and champions lesbian, gay and bisexual rights.

Last year, she joined Nigel Farage on the People’s Channel to discuss a four-month police probe by a specialist unit to which she was subjected.

However, the investigation did not result in any action being taken – and Ms Smith likened it to a “Stasi” operation.

And despite originally telling her she should attend a course “to explore the impact” of her posts, Newcastle United had not reinstated Ms Smith’s membership early after she promised not to make similar posts again.

She also came to an agreement with the club not to pursue legal action but to issue a joint statement instead.

Ms Smith told The Telegraph: “I’m just relieved it’s all over. I can start to move forward now. It was simply about doing the right thing and standing up for myself.

“They wanted me to go away quietly, and I wasn’t going to do that.

“All I could think about was how many other people have had something like this happen to them, whether it be an employer or another service provider.

“I couldn’t let that happen, I had to fight this. All I ever really wanted was an acknowledgement that I had a right to say the things that I’m saying and get the ban lifted.”

| LINZI SMITH

Northumbria Police has also apologised for the handling of Ms Smith’s case.

Despite insisting there had been no misconduct by its officers, the force said more training was needed to ensure hate crime reports are handled in an appropriate manner.

In their joint statement, Newcastle United FC and Linzi Smith said: “The club has stated that it is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion, and to its responsibilities to embed these across its policies and practices.

“As such, the club has sought engagement from Ms Smith in relation to a bespoke training programme designed to explore the impact of certain statements Ms Smith posted on X to which the club objected and which had been the subject of complaints.

WATCH: Linzi Smith joins Nigel Farage on the People’s Channel to discuss the ban

“M Smith has declined this offer. Ms Smith states she holds and advocates for legally-protected gender critical beliefs and has been the target of online abuse.

“However, Ms Smith acknowledges that she has at times responded to posts on X in a way which she now regrets and does not intend to repeat.

“In light of that, taking into account all the circumstances, and recognising the almost two years Ms Smith has been banned from the stadium, the club has now agreed to remove the ban effective from the date of the settlement agreement.”

Ms Smith, however, is unsure when she will feel comfortable enough to return to the stadium.

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She said: “I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to go back to the stadium, because I won’t feel particularly safe going there.

“My face has been everywhere and while there are Newcastle supporters that have supported me, publicly and probably quietly through the whole thing, I know there are individuals who vehemently disagree with me and I don’t know what would happen if they saw me there.”

The Free Speech Union celebrated the club’s decision.

It said: “The lifelong Newcastle fan banned from attending games because of her gender critical posts on X is now able to watch her beloved Magpies again.

“We are delighted for her. Newcastle United isn’t the only club to be captured by radical progressive ideology.

“Cases like Linzi’s are becoming increasingly common and will become more so when Labour’s new football regulator starts throwing its weight around, insisting all clubs do more to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.”