Portland Thorns get destroyed in the comment section for praising fans on the same night XX-XY group attacked
The Portland Thorns faced criticism after thanking their fans on social media following a match where supporters of XX-XY Athletics said they were harassed and assaulted. The post, published on Fan Appreciation Night, drew a wave of replies accusing the club of praising fans despite the reported incidents.
Activist and commentator Brandi Kruse said her friend Julie, a 57-year-old lesbian, was pushed down two rows of seats by a male fan after wearing an XX-XY Athletics shirt; she said Julie filed a police report. Kruse also said security restrained her and removed her from the stadium. The article reports that the group’s members wore shirts and carried a “Save Women’s Sports” sign, and quotes social media users criticising the fans and the club.
In short
- The Thorns were criticised for praising fans after a disputed match.
- A 57-year-old attendee reportedly filed a police report after being pushed.
- Activist Brandi Kruse said security restrained and removed her.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Thorns’ post was a general Fan Appreciation Night message, and the reported assault was attributed to an individual supporter rather than the club or its wider fanbase. The club may reasonably want to recognise supporters as a whole while the specific allegations are investigated, rather than let an unverified account define every fan or its relationship with them.
The case against
Given the reported assault and police report, praising fans that same night could reasonably be seen as tone-deaf and as overlooking people who felt unsafe. The club has a responsibility to take supporters’ safety seriously, and a timely acknowledgement of the allegations and concern for those affected might have shown that appreciation did not mean ignoring the incident.
Explained simply
The Portland Thorns are a professional women’s football club based in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. XX-XY Athletics is a group that campaigns on women’s participation in sport and has attended events wearing “Save Women’s Sports” clothing and signs.
The dispute concerns reports from a match involving the group’s supporters and other people at the stadium. Activist and commentator Brandi Kruse said her friend Julie reported being pushed and filed a police report; Kruse also said she was restrained by security and removed from the ground. The accounts and the club’s response matter because they raise questions about supporter safety and how clubs respond to incidents at matches.