Report: Tottenham Hotspur make decision on Israeli flags at the stadium 

The Times have revealed that Tottenham Hotspur have decided not to allow any political flags, including the Israeli one, at the stadium.

The conflict in the Middle East has dominated the headlines over the past two weeks and the tensions regarding the issue have continued to escalate since. As such, there has been plenty of debate about the muted response from the Premier League and the various clubs.

Tottenham, in particular, have been left in a difficult position as the club boasts a diverse fan base with varying views but also has historic links to the local Jewish community (The Athletic).

Tottenham ban political flags from the stadium

According to The Times, Spurs have sent an email to their supporters asking them not to bring any flags to the stadium for the clash against Fulham on Monday.

Their statement reportedly reads: “The club has always considered that a football match is a time to show allegiance to a football team first and foremost. A football match is not an appropriate arena to display flags or any political or religious affiliation or anything that could possibly be considered inflammatory — this can include national flags during times of political conflict, campaigns or issues.”

This is thought to include Israeli flags, which have often been seen at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the old White Hart Lane over the years. The club also confirmed that there will be an increased security presence at the venue ahead of the game.

The Telegraph add that Tottenham’s flag policy is in line with the directive handed to the club by the Premier League ahead of matchweek 9.

Spurs Web Opinion

This is a contentious issue and there is no doubt that some will applaud this move while others will see it as an act of moral cowardice from Spurs, given their historic Jewish links.

The reality is that the Premier League and Tottenham probably had little choice but to ban any flags (which presumably includes the Palestinian one too) in order to avoid a potential flashpoint, given how high the tensions are running at the moment.

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