A HASHTAG campaign in support of controversial Jamaican cricketer Chris Gayle is gaining momentum, with a patron bearing a #StandByGayle sign forced to hand it over to security.

The Melbourne Renegades big-hitter may never return to the Big Bash League, after it was last night revealed that Cricket Australia may block any club that attempts to sign the star next season amid allegations of sexist behaviour following his infamous interview with Channel 10 broadcaster Mel McLaughlin on Monday night.

Throwing bottles/cups/other miscellaneous items and swearing like a drunken warfie in front of kids is apparently ok.... Posted by Will Hunter on Wednesday, 6 January 2016

Despite the interview and subsequent claims of a pattern of sexist behaviour towards women, fans continue to take to social media to express their support for Gayle, with many tweeting their frustration that the sign was deemed offensive.

#standbygayle @CAComms You ban him people will boycott. What a joke, you want to ban him yet when male athletes get hit on its normal.. — Ali Chahrour (@alichahrour123) January 6, 2016

@MCG Your security has turfed a patron with #StandbyGayle sign,regardless of opinions that isn't offensive.Shame on your security. #BBL05 — Mick (@mjb1963) January 6, 2016

“Political correctness police continue their good work,” one fan wrote on Twitter.

Another condemned the MCG security for their actions, while another described it as “disgusting”.

“Freedom of speech?,” they wrote.

Initial reports suggested that the patrons were evicted as a direct result of the signs.

The MCC confirmed that three patrons were ejected from last night’s match, but said that none of the trio’s evictions “were related to the display of signage”.

It did confirm that the signs were confiscated in accordance with Cricket Australia’s entry conditions that relate to “offensive signage”.

“At last night’s BBL match a small number of patrons were identified as displaying signs which related to the contentious Chris Gayle incident which took place earlier in the week,” a spokesperson told the Herald Sun on Thursday.

“In accordance with Cricket Australia’s Venue conditions of entry which prohibit the display of offensive signage, MCG security requested that the signs be removed from display. In instances where the patron did not comply with this request, the security representatives confiscated the signage.

“Patrons were not evicted for bringing in signage of this nature and overall the crowd on the night was well behaved.”

Another two patrons holding two signs reading “Don’t Blush Baby” – Gayle’s flirtatious comment to McLaughlin – also had their signs confiscated at the match, which the Stars claimed by eight wickets.

A NewsCorp poll revealed that only 12 per cent of readers believe Gayle should be banned from returning to the Big Bash League.

PODCAST: BEN HORNE ON THE CHRIS GAYLE FIASCO

#standbygayle the political correctness police continue their good work pic.twitter.com/tVhU3vmBOK — zane (@zhump72) January 6, 2016

@cricketaus_cca If CA was that concerned about @henrygayle comments then they should have banned @ShaneWarne long ago #standbygayle — rizscorpi (@rizscorpi) January 6, 2016

Originally published as #StandByGayle gathers momentum