In an exclusive poll by Express.co.uk that asked participants if they agreed “laddish behaviour” at work should be banned, up to 93 percent disagreed, amounting to 2,477 people. A total of seven percent believed chat about sports in the office should become a thing of the past, which was 195 people. Up to 18 people clicked the ‘don’t know’ option.

Data was collected on January 28 between 9am and 8pm and saw 2,690 people take part.

Comments widely reflected the result of the poll.

One reader said: “In a free society, people must be able to talk about and think about absolutely anything as long as it does not incite others to violence. These virtue-signalling identity politics nutcases need ostracising from our society.”

Another added: “What an absolute load of tripe. Can’t talk about religion in case it offends.

“Politics is out of the question. Who appoints these loons to this management body, I don’t think women who are disinterested in sport give a toss either way, it will be the mind police next.”

A third said: “I am a female football, cricket and many other sports fan and would be able to join in but what about women talking about fashion, babies etc should they be banned as well.

“After all, we must have equality.”

Another added: “I think she actually means, men should not speak at all, except on demand.

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“What about when the girls talk about eyebrows, lips, tanning, Love Island.”

Another said: “I feel left out when my co-workers talk about PMT, bloated stomachs, make-up, babies etc.

“Ban this talk as well, so that we all either sit in silence or we can only talk about the work that is on our VDU at this precise moment. Foolish woman!!!”

Another comment read: “Let’s all have a cosy all-inclusive chat about waxing and chlamydia then.”

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Another added: “The thought police are moving to control what we can speak about, when and where. More like a communist state every day.

“Any controls on what women can talk about? When and where?”

It comes after Ann Francke, head of the Chartered Management Institute, called on bosses to moderate football and cricket banter.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “A lot of women, in particular, feel left out.

“They don’t follow those sports and they don’t like either being forced to talk about them or not being included.

“I have nothing against sports enthusiasts or cricket fans – that’s great.

“But the issue is many people aren’t cricket fans.”

She added: “It’s a gateway to more laddish behaviour and – if it just goes unchecked – it’s a signal of a more laddish culture.

“It’s very easy for it to escalate from VAR talk and chat to slapping each other on the back and talking about their conquests at the weekend.”

Ms Francke’s comments prompted a strong reaction on social media.

Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan tweeted: “What utter twaddle.

“We’ve got to stop these virtue-signalling cretins sucking all the fun out of life.”

Tory MP and former sports minister Tracey Crouch posted: “What a load of nonsense. All welcome to pop in for sports chat in this woman’s office….”

Cricket commentator Alison Mitchell said: “What about when the sports banter is between women?? There are so many assumptions in this debate. And really, anyone can feel excluded from any topic of conversation if they’re not into it. Not about sport, about social awareness surely