Footy League accused of blocking spectators from taking photos of Flying Bats soccer team that included five transgender players in women’s grand final

Security guards allegedly blocked spectators, club officials and professional photographers from taking photos or recording vision of the Flying Bats football club in their grand final win on Sunday.

The Flying Bats are an all-inclusive soccer club that fielded a team in the North West Sydney Premier League competition featuring five transgender players.

Under Human Rights Commission guidelines, which the governing body of the competition Football NSW differs to for this grade,  ‘community (grassroots) players are permitted to participate in Football on the basis of the gender with which they identify.’

However the Flying Bats grand final victory over the West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Football Club was marred after opposition teams forfeited against them six times – including in the semi-finals – because they were fielding transgender players.

The Flying Bats won all 17 games they played, scoring 76 goals and only conceding eight, including the grand final.

Photographers could only get images with mobile phones after professional cameras were forbidden at the gate

A spectator named ‘David’ told Ben Fordham Live on 2GB that it was a high quality spectacle, with the Flying Bats only narrowly winning 5-4.

‘I enjoyed the game, it was David versus Goliath,’ he said.

‘It was a challenging contest up there and the West Pennant girls acquitted themselves very, very, very well.’

But David then went on to mention the high security presence at the venue that was allegedly searching bags and blocking onlookers from taking photos or filming vision.

‘It was told to me by one of the security officers up there that they were actually doing bag checks to make sure no one had brought in any sort of device to film the game any bigger than a mobile phone,’ he said.

‘I was told by a security guard up there that they had to ask one person who refused to open their bag, to show what was in the bag to leave the premises because they were concerned about them being there without accreditation.

‘They were clamping down on people there trying to take footage for a number of reasons.’

Spectators revealed they had bags searched and there was a heavy security presence at the grand final

A professional photographer, who did not want to be named, confirmed with Daily Mail Australia that bags were being checked for cameras.  

‘I was surprised when attending the game that there was an unusually high amount of security staff. I counted at least 6 staff from Guardian Security.

‘Bags were checked on the way in and no professional cameras were allowed except for those few approved by the relevant soccer association, not the teams.

‘I firstly observed a security guy asking someone a young male with a consumer type camera being asked to stop taking pictures, which I thought was not right but I didn’t get involved. 

‘He was clearly a soccer supporter but one of the opposing team, and the security kept on him making the guests (West Pennant Hills) feel uncomfortable.

‘I then observed another security attendant asked someone (a female) to show him through their iPhone pics which I honestly thought was a total invasion of their privacy.

‘I again observed various security do the same thing to at least five others and I was astounded that people just let them do that.’

Spectators were allegedly asked by security guards to show them vision they had taken on their mobile devices as well

In Australia there is no law restricting the photography of people in public spaces. However Christie Park is owned by Ryde Council, which does hold the discretion to ban photos from being taken on its premises, although it is not common at sporting events.

The Flying Bats told Daily Mail Australia photography and filming accreditation was managed by the North West Football League.

‘Game day logistics are managed by the NWSF association, they are best placed to answer security questions,’ a Flying Bats spokesperson said.

The North West Football League has been contacted for comment. 

The LGBTI Rights Australia Facebook group previously posted a message congratulating the team shortly after they won the Beryl Ackroyd Cup and slammed critics of the side.

‘Transgender women have been proudly part of the bats for 20 YEARS, yet it took terf N@zi$ up until this week to take notice,’ the message read.

‘This underscores that the issue isn’t transgender athletes but the exploitation of sports for political gain.

‘Congratulations to the Flying Bats Soccer Club who recently won the Beryl Ackroyd Cup! (And to all the transphobes complaining, we suggest you train a bit harder).’