Tottenham's LGBTQI+ Supporters Group Criticizes Slavia Prague Over Flag Relocation
Tottenham Hotspur's LGBTQI+ supporters group has expressed discontent with Slavia Prague after the Czech club requested the relocation of a flag for Tuesday's Champions League match.
The Progress Pride rainbow flag is typically displayed in the north-east corner of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which is designated for visiting fans.
In a statement, Spurs confirmed that the flag had been "relocated at the request of the visiting team to UEFA on security grounds."
The Proud Lilywhites group responded, stating, "You don’t get to come to our house and dictate what’s acceptable, let alone complain about a flag that represents our own community."
The group further claimed that Slavia raised concerns that supporters "may damage the flag and cause disorder" if it remained in its original position.
According to UEFA sources speaking to BBC Sport, the issue arose from the presence of Tottenham's badge on the flag displayed within the away section.
Slavia Prague provided a statement to BBC Sport, explaining, "The flag with Tottenham symbols would have been placed directly in the section reserved for our fans at that moment. For this reason, it was temporarily moved to another location in the stadium, with an agreement from the home club. This is a logical step based on respect for the area designated for visiting fans, just as Slavia fans outside the visiting section respect the rules against wearing our club colors or symbols."
The Proud Lilywhites' flag, which is present at all Tottenham home games, has been moved in similar situations during previous European matches. No other Tottenham flags are located in the away end.
In their statement, the Proud Lilywhites emphasized, "The risk here isn’t the flag; it’s the reaction of a small number of opposition supporters. That’s disappointing, and it serves as a reminder of the hostility LGBTQI+ fans continue to face across European football."