Quidditch Changes Name To Quadball Following JK Rowling's 'Anti-Trans Comments'

Quidditch is officially changing its name to Quadball in an effort to distance itself from J.K. Rowling following her "anti-trans positions".

If you didn't know, now you do, but Quidditch is actually a proper sport boasting over 600 teams in over 40 different countries.

And, of course, it is inspired by J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

But the book's author has landed herself in hot water with critics in recent years following a string of comments deemed transphobic.

Her remarks have seen her face heavy criticism with Harry Potter himself (Daniel Radcliffe) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) even speaking out against her.

Rowling strongly denies being transphobic.

But as a result of the backlash, Major League Quidditch and U.S. Quidditch have announced their plans to rebrand completely.

"Today marks a monumental step in the history of our sport, and it marks an equally big step for Major League Quadball," the sport's governing bodies said.

With a gender maximum rule in place, the competition prides itself on being "one of the most progressive sports in the world on gender equality and inclusivity".

The league added: "Both organisations feel it is imperative to live up to this reputation in all aspects of their operations, and believe this move is a step in that direction."

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It's understood the idea of a rebrand was first floated after the sport lost potential sponsorship and broadcast opportunities because the Quidditch name is still technically owned by Warner Bros.

But since J.K. Rowling's “anti-trans positions” have seen her upset so many people, the organisations cited that as another reason for the switch.

“We’ve tried to be clear that it’s both reasons,” Jack McGovern, a spokesman for US Quidditch and Major League Quidditch, told the New York Times.

“We did not intend to give a value judgment about which reason was more important than the other.”

So, why Quadball?

Well, it's simple: during a match there's four balls on the field and a total of four player positions.

Topics: Australia, US Sports

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry