After visiting women’s restrooms and ‘identifying’ as a woman, a well-known Portsmouth supporter is banned.
A well-known Portsmouth supporter has been banned from the club’s next two matches after pretending to be transgender and entering the women’s restrooms at halftime of Saturday’s loss to Sheffield Wednesday.
John Westwood, the tattooed bookseller famous for his bell ringing at Fratton Park, stated that “no malice” was intended and that he was simply “laughing and giggling” as it was “women’s day.”
The match had been devoted to the Her Game Too campaign, which aims to raise awareness of sexism in sport.
After being confronted by female supporters, the 59-year-old was led out of Fratton Park by the police.
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Mr. Westwood informed a local station, The News, that he entered the tunnel before the restrooms and did not proceed.
“This woman emerged from the restrooms and told me to leave, so I departed. I was simply laughing and giggling. As it was women’s day, I decided to identify as a woman to demonstrate unity with them. There was no intent to harm.”
That is Westwood’s fourth suspension of the season, but Portsmouth has not responded to a request for comment on why they have only issued him brief bans from attending games.
He was previously reprimanded for making a vulgar gesture during a friendly against Coventry City, urinating against a wall when Pompey played Forest Green Rovers on the road, and making an obscene gesture with his bell at the conclusion of last month’s draw with Barnsley.
Following this latest incident, Mr. Westwood will not be permitted to attend tonight’s away game against Accrington Stanley or Saturday’s trip to Bristol Rovers, and some fans are calling for a permanent ban.
John Westwood, a supporter of Portsmouth, is photographed waving his bell.
John Westwood, a supporter of Portsmouth, is photographed waving his bell.
On Saturday, Portsmouth received several reports from supporters who spotted him entering the female restrooms. A representative for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary stated that a man was extricated from the ground at approximately 4:00 p.m.
Mr. Westwood said the following to The News: “If I sing it’s a geezers club, I am reprimanded, and if I identify as a woman, I am reprimanded as well. No longer is it acceptable to make light of anything.
“Offense is not illegal, and we will all offend someone at some point. This is life, and people must accept it.
“Now, it appears to me that minorities in this world dictate to majority what they may and may not think. I support equality, but they cannot impose their views on others.”