Watch: Protesters dragged away after confronting transgender darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Jean Hatchet says she was left with 'bruises and scratches' from her 'very violent' removal for holding up a 'he's a man' banner at the women's event in Blackpool.
The demonstration took place as Van Leuven, the first openly transgender woman in the sport, trounced Lorraine Winstanley in a best-of-seven-legs fixture. Van Leuven was halted in the next round, however, by Fallon Sherrock, losing 5-4.
Hatchet, a writer who was wearing a 'Sex Matters' T-shirt at the event, posted footage of security guards manhandling protesters out of the venue. She posted on social media that it had been a 'horrific display of brute force against women who didn't even get a chance to say 'he's a man' before being dragged out'. She was among at least three protesters thrown out. Another wore a 'Save Women's Sport' T-shirt.
Glad the man Noa-Lynn Van Loeven is OUT of the women's darts. @OfficialPDC now you can answer why women were treated like THIS pic.twitter.com/PIGqWreskC
— Jean Hatchet (@JeanHatchet) July 27, 2025
While many sports have toughened rules against male-born athletes in women's competitions in recent years, transgender players are generally allowed to compete in line with the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA)'s inclusive policy.
Despite the protests, PDC Darts posted favourable messages about Van Leuven's involvement, describing the first-round victory 'as a dominant display to break new ground in Blackpool'.
Van Leuven gets off the mark in Blackpool...!
📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8 #WomensMatchplay pic.twitter.com/XLuft6ZWQ2
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 27, 2025
Van Leuven took a step back from the sport at the beginning of this year citing mental-health reasons after facing intense scrutiny last year. Ahead of the Blackpool tournament, the Dutch player said: 'I love this game too much and why would I let anyone else ruin my passion for darts?
'I just want to play darts. It feels amazing to be back. It's such an iconic place to play at. Last year I just lacked a bit of confidence, I guess. I've been gaining a lot of stage experience now, so hopefully I can bring my A game to the stage this time.'
The Professional Darts Corporation has been approached for a response.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wrexham FC Championship debut sparks Premiership dreams
Fans are daring to dream of a fourth consecutive promotion as Wrexham AFC make their Championship club is facing Southampton away on Saturday following a record-breaking back-to-back-to-back manager Phil Parkinson said the club "won't get carried away" with fans' is the first time Wrexham are playing in the second tier of English football since 1982. They were relegated at the end of that season but, 43 years on, they are finally back to those giddy heights once more. The summer saw a flurry of new signings, including Wales internationals Danny Ward and Kieffer Moore creating excitement among Parkinson said the task was winning matches and keeping distractions to a said: "Other people on the outside may talk about that [the promotions] but we're just focused on what we've got to do, remaining grounded as a group and knowing there's a lot of hard work ahead of us." But that will not stop fans from speculating, as Rich Fay and Nathan Salt have been doing on their RobRyanRed podcast for four said celebrity owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds had a bullish attitude: "North American owners have this insatiable appetite to win, they don't understand finishing 10th."Rob came on our podcast and said 'I wouldn't take finishing seventh in the Premiership because why are there six teams ahead of us?'."Rich added: "They've only wanted to win every single time since they've been in charge of the club and that's not going to change."But he is also urging fans to enjoy the achievements so far."Sometimes you've got to look back where you've come from to really appreciate how amazing it's been already." Whatever happens, the Wrexham playbook has already inspired other would-be Ryans and Robs to get involved in non-league Stroud, who runs Network FC for people looking to invest in football clubs, said: "I get buyers and investors coming to me saying 'I want to do a Wrexham, we want to try and emulate what Rob and Ryan have done'."And they do not need to be Hollywood stars to do it."We're getting enquiries from some very interesting people, some heavyweights of the industry but also people who've saved up to do something in football," he club has been represented at the National Eisteddfod on the edge of the city all week with a Wrexham FC stall selling the latest first Championship match will be screened on the Maes with live Welsh language commentary from Niclas Parry, the new president of the Eisteddfod it's anyone's guess how their story will end this time.
BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
Howe says he 'can't involve' Isak at Newcastle - is there a way back?
Eddie Howe says it is "clear" that he "can't involve" Alexander Isak at Newcastle United as things rejected a £110m bid from Liverpool last week after the striker wanted to explore his missed Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia with a "minor thigh injury", but the 25-year-old went on to train alone at former club Real previously warned no player could expect to act "poorly and train with group as normal".Howe has not closed the door on Isak one day representing Newcastle again - but the head coach stressed on Friday that the situation "had to be right for that to happen"."We've had discussions and it's clear at the moment that we can't involve him with the group," he said after Newcastle's 2-2 draw against Espanyol. "I don't know how long that will be for, but that's the latest."Howe confirmed Isak, who has no current fitness issues, had not been the Sweden international has been instructed to train at a later time to the rest of his team-mates in Newcastle."I'd want Alex to be playing today," Howe added just eight days before the season opener at Aston Villa. "I'd want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us."Let me make that absolutely clear. There's no part of me that doesn't want that outcome, but I don't see the current situation changing for Aston Villa." Turbulent summer for Newcastle A lot can change in two and a half was among those players celebrating in a jubilant huddle as the Champions League anthem played out at St James' 75 days had just secured their place at Europe's top table and it felt like the club had real momentum going into the this has proved a frustrating window for Newcastle, who have missed out on Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and James there is the Isak fell to William Osula to play up front on Friday and Anthony Gordon, who is a winger by trade, is set to follow suit against Atletico Madrid a day Isak's absence, and a lack of signings, has not completely soured the mood on Tyneside. Saturday's friendly is a sell-out and, despite this game against Espanyol taking place less than 24 hours beforehand, there were still 30,782 fans already have an eye on what is to come."Is this the way to Barcelona?" supporters in the Gallowgate chanted. "Bayern Munich? Lazio? Roma? The Champions League awaits for me." Ramsdale catches eye on debut Newcastle clearly require further reinforcements to cope with the rigours of Europe, but a couple of new arrivals did still impress on Friday Aaron Ramsdale, who joined on loan from Southampton, made his debut for the club while youngster Seung-soo Park played his first game at St James' following his move from Suwon Samsung of Ramsdale's first tasks of the night was to pick the ball out of the net after Edu Exposito put Espanyol in front with a long-range strike in the 17th Newcastle a few minutes later, Lewis Miley's scooped cross to the back post was met by the head of Matt had a chance to retake the lead after Targett brought down striker Roberto Fernandez inside the box just before Ramsdale guessed right and kept out Espanyol captain Javier Puado's spot-kick to loud cheers before Jacob Murphy put Newcastle in front after the went on to make a fine save to deny former Blackburn Rovers Tyrhys Dolan late there was still time for Kike Garcia to score an equaliser as Newcastle's wait for a pre-season win goes on. Three or four signings are needed Park, meanwhile, was lively down the left-hand side and the winger was applauded off the field after being taken off in the second South Korean may not have necessarily expected to be heavily involved with the first team so quickly, but Howe has had few options in a number of midfield, for sold Sean Longstaff to Leeds United last month, while Joe Willock suffered a calf injury, which will keep the midfielder out for between four and six and Sandro Tonali were kept back for the visit of Atletico Madrid so it fell to Targett to fill in alongside captain Bruno Guimaraes and shifted back to his favoured position in the second half after youngster Alfie Harrison replaced Lewis Hall, who is continuing to build up his minutes after breaking a bone in his this was a timely reminder that not only do Newcastle need a centre-back and at least one striker before the window shuts next month, but they also need another there is the very real possibility that Howe will have to be creative and field players out of position over the course of the clock is ticking ahead of the window shutting on 1 September.
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Shocking moment football thug tries to FIGHT opposition players during ugly brawl on opening game of the season - before being flatlined by security
Friday's Championship curtain-raiser between Birmingham and Ipswich was marred by ugly scenes in the closing stages as a fan tried to fight opposition players. After a tense opening 45 minutes at St Andrew's, Jay Stansfield fired Birmingham into the lead on 55 minutes. However, the club would ultimately be denied an opening day win on their return to the second tier when George Hirst converted a dramatic injury-time penalty to equalise for the Tractor Boys. As Hirst wheeled away in celebration tensions began to boil over between the two sets of players. More to follow Opening night of the season and this Birmingham fan just can't help himself. #BIRIPS — NEP Daily Football Podcast (@northendpod) August 8, 2025
