Watch: Man Ejected from Heartland Stadium for Wearing MAGA Hat – Now the Feds Are Involved
A Missouri man named Michael Weitzel was ejected from a St. Louis City SC soccer game on July 26 for wearing a “Make America Grate Again” (MAGA) hat. Security approached him, citing a stadium rule that bans political paraphernalia unless pre-approved. Weitzel recorded the incident and shared the video online, which sparked attention including from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, reportedly investigating weather his civil rights were violated. Despite being told to remove, hide the hat, or leave, Weitzel refused to take off his hat, emphasizing his belief in free expression. the soccer club’s policy prohibits political campaigning or advocacy at games, but critics note that no similar enforcement appears to have occurred against fans displaying left-leaning slogans or imagery. The incident has raised questions about selective enforcement of the rules.
A Missouri man was kicked out of a St. Louis City SC soccer game on July 26 for wearing an iconic “Make America Great Again” hat.
The man, Michael Weitzel, filmed the entire exchange and posted it online. Now, the federal government is reportedly looking into whether the man’s civil rights were violated.
The video showed four security officers approaching him during the match at Energizer Park.
A man got kicked out of a @stlCITYsc game last night for wearing a MAGA hat. Security said they don’t allow political paraphernalia. Man then asked security what’s up with the constant pride flags and trans banners at the games. They didn’t like that either. pic.twitter.com/t0ZZ8b1QxF
— Gregg Keller (@RGreggKeller) August 2, 2025
Gregg Keller, a Missouri-based GOP consultant, d the video on X.
Keller wrote, “A man got kicked out of a @stlCITYsc game last night for wearing a MAGA hat.”
“Security said they don’t allow political paraphernalia,” he added.
In a follow-up post, Keller revealed, “Can confirm this video is now being looked at by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.”
Can confirm this video is now being looked at by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. https://t.co/ZJmIzsi8oo
— Gregg Keller (@RGreggKeller) August 2, 2025
Weitzel, a die-hard soccer fan, told KFTK’s “The Marc Cox Morning Show” he was stunned after being confronted and removed.
“I didn’t think there’d be any issue with wearing that to the game,” Weitzel said per the New York Post.
“But with about 25 minutes left in the game, I was basically told they’d received a complaint about my hat.”
The stadium’s Fan Code of Conduct prohibits political signs, images, flags or banners unless pre-approved.
Weitzel was told to either take the hat to his car, hide it, or leave.
“I’m not gonna take my hat off for anybody,” he said on the show. “I live in America, which is the land of the free and the home of the brave, I thought. So you do what you have to do.”
In the footage, Weitzel can be heard saying, “I’m being threatened with arrest.”
An officer escorting him out told Weitzel that he supported President Donald Trump, too, but said he was just enforcing stadium rules.
“He gets it. He’s just following the rules,” Weitzel said in the video.
“This is the stadium’s rules here. So that’s what happens if you wear a Donald Trump hat to a St. Louis City Soccer Club game.”
The team says on its website that it bans “electioneering, campaigning, or advocating for or against any candidate.”
A red MAGA hat is a cultural symbol at this point.
President Trump is also not running for office, and the country does not have any national elections for another 15 months, so it would not be out of order to conclude that the soccer club selectively enforced the rule.
A deep search did not yield any results for fans being removed by the team for slogans or imagery embraced by or associated with the left.
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