Luton City has expressed their disappointment after the “betrayed by the FA 2008” message on a banner at Kenilworth Highway was partially obscured throughout Monday night time’s England Beneath-21’s match towards Austria.
The banner references the 30-point deduction imposed on Luton for monetary irregularities, resulting in their relegation from the English Soccer League (EFL) within the 2008-09 season.
Luton mentioned that the choice to fold the underside of the flag, the place the road is situated, was made by the FA and never authorised by them.
In a press release, the Championship aspect emphasised the significance of the banner to each the membership and its supporters.
“The ‘betrayed by the FA 2008’ message printed on the backside part of the flag has a significant significance to our supporters and the membership, as it’s a illustration of essentially the most poignant occasion within the membership’s historical past and is a symbolic relic of the most important factors deduction the FA has issued any membership,” they mentioned.
“In agreeing to make use of Kenilworth Highway for final night time’s fixture, the membership was obliged at hand the operation of the fixture and the membership’s total facility to the FA.
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“Nevertheless, it was requested that the banner in query would stay in place.
“Within the last build-up to the match, the FA requested for the flag to be taken down, a request that the membership rejected.
“As an alternative, the nook was folded, which meant the flag remained in place, however the full extent of its which means was compromised.
“This motion was demanded by the FA and carried out by a member of membership employees who didn’t admire the true significance of the motion. Had the request been escalated it could have been declined.
“The membership understands the following response from the fanbase and is extraordinarily disenchanted the FA felt the necessity to disguise the message.”
Luton spent 5 years in non-league soccer earlier than climbing again via the divisions and securing a season within the Premier League in 2023-24.
The FA has been contacted for remark.
(Marc Atkins/Getty Pictures)
