Soccer Team, Security Scrutinized After Podcaster, Group Ejected Over T-Shirts

Pressure is increasing on Providence Park Stadium and the Portland Thorns soccer team following an incident Friday night in which Seattle podcaster Brandi Kruse and several others said they were assaulted and forcibly removed from the game because they wore shirts from XX-XY Athletics, a brand that maintains women’s sports should be for women and girls only.

In video posted by Kruse, a female security guard is seen grabbing and twisting Kruse's arm, pinning it against her back, then pushing her up the stairs and out through the stands, as other fans waving trans-flags shouted “shame” and vulgar insults.

“I was just forcefully removed from a @ThornsFC game for the crime of wearing an XX-XY Athletics t-shirt. I am in shock. We peacefully wore our shirts. We were assaulted by fans. Then WE were forced to leave – with FORCE by stadium security. I am utterly in shock,” Kruse posted Friday evening.

Kruse can be heard in the video initially saying she has purchased a ticket and was not going to leave, then repeatedly asking what she had done wrong and why she was being kicked out.