Tottenham have moved their rainbow flag from its usual position above the away end in fear of the reaction in will provoke among Slavia Prague fans.
UEFA agreed to a request from Slavia to relocate it and although Spurs made a case to keep the flag where it is normally seen in the north-east corner of the arena, they have reluctantly agreed to move it across the stadium to the south-west corner for this game only.
‘The flag has been relocated at the request of the visiting team to UEFA on security grounds,’ confirmed a Spurs spokesman.
The flag represents the Proud Lilywhites, the Spurs LBGTQ+ supporters’ group. The club have worked closely with them to ensure it is on prominent display and visible on TV broadcasts not hidden away to illustrate their commitment to inclusivity.
It is not the first time it has been moved amid security concerns for European games. It was moved for the Europa League quarter final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt last season then returned to its usual place after the game. Marseille fans tore the flag down during unrest after a game in 2022.
Slavia Prague claimed the problem was that the Spurs crest might cause a flashpoint, although few are under any illusions.
‘Let’s be honest about what this means,’ said a statement released by Proud Lilywhites on social media.
‘The risk here isn’t the flag. It’s the reaction of a small number of opposition supporters. That’s disappointing, and it’s another reminder of the hostility LGBTQ+ fans still face across European football.
‘We also want to be clear the club has handled this appropriately. They’ve been transparent with us through, pushed back where they could and made sure this sits firmly as a request from the visiting clubs rather than a decision rooted in Spurs’ own values.’
