LUTON have found themselves embroiled in a bitter row with the FA after hosting an England U21 fixture at Kenilworth Road this week.
Luton’s home ground played host as England‘s starlets earned a 4-1 victory over their Austrian counterparts on Monday night.
The fixture sparked controversy after a historic flag inside Kenilworth Road was altered to hide a message that is usually on display for every Luton game.
The flag, which is believed to have been in the Main Stand since 2008, reads: “Luton Town. Betrayed by the FA 2008″.
The message points to Luton’s history as a club after they were slapped with a 30-point deduction back in 2008 following financial infringements.
The deduction, which was brought upon Luton by the FA and the Football League, led to Luton’s relegation and saw them consigned to non-league football for five years before earning their spot back in League Two in 2014.
However, the flag was folded to cover the message “Betrayed by the FA 2008” during Monday’s international fixture – a decision Luton claim “would have been declined” had those in charge known of the request.
A statement from the club read: “The ‘Betrayed by the FA 2008’ message printed at the bottom section of the flag has a meaningful significance to our supporters and the Club.
“As it is a representation of the most poignant event in the Club’s history and is a symbolic relic of the largest points deduction the FA has issued any club.”
Luton claim that they agreed to host the England U21 fixture at Kenilworth Road under the condition that the banner would remain in place.
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The Hatters’ statement added: “In the final build-up to the match, the FA asked for the flag to be taken down, a request that the Club rejected.
“Instead, the corner was folded, which meant the flag remained in place, but the full extent of its meaning was compromised.
“This action was demanded by the FA and carried out by a member of club staff who didn’t appreciate the true significance of the action.
“Had the request been escalated it would have been declined.”
Luton went on to add that they are “extremely disappointed the FA felt they needed to hide the message”.
The club also issued an apology to their fans who had been upset by the message being hidden.
While the Championship outfit also stated that they would only host future FA fixtures at Kenilworth Road on the “assurance that the club’s wishes to acknowledge its history are observed”.
A statement from the Loyal Luton Supporters Club (LLSC) slammed the decision and said it was left “deeply disappointed and dismayed” by the banner being covered.
Luton put together a miraculous comeback following their relegation from the Football League after their points deduction.
After regaining promotion into League Two in 2014 they put together a string of promotions to earn a spot in the Premier League last season.
However the Hatters were relegated after one term in the top flight and are now plying their trade in the Championship.
The FA is yet to release a statement regarding the incident.
Luton Town Football Club would like to clarify the situation regarding the unauthorised folding of the flag in the corner of the Main Stand for last night’s England Under-21 international at Kenilworth Road.
The ‘Betrayed by the FA 2008’ message printed at the bottom section of the flag has a meaningful significance to our supporters and the Club, as it is a representation of the most poignant event in the Club’s history and is a symbolic relic of the largest points deduction the FA has issued any club.
As time has passed, the Club’s relationship with the FA has arrived at a place where games such as last night’s England U21 international may be hosted at Kenilworth Road. Events such as these are positive for the Club’s local community – particularly for younger supporters in the area – and are events the Club wishes to conduct more of moving into Power Court.
In agreeing to use Kenilworth Road for last night’s fixture, the Club was obliged to hand the operation of the fixture and the Club’s entire facility to the FA under their specification which included adding the application of England branding throughout the stadium. However, it was requested that the banner in question would remain in place, just as it did when Kenilworth Road played host to the FA Women’s National League Cup final on March 23rd.
In the final build-up to the match, the FA asked for the flag to be taken down, a request that the Club rejected.
Instead, the corner was folded, which meant the flag remained in place, but the full extent of its meaning was compromised. This action was demanded by the FA and carried out by a member of Club staff who didn’t appreciate the true significance of the action. Had the request been escalated it would have been declined.
The Club understands the subsequent reaction from the fanbase and is extremely disappointed the FA felt the need to hide the message, which is also a poignant part of its own history. We will never forget what happened with the points deductions, and we apologise to any of our supporters who were offended by this action and to those who own the flag.
Ultimately, it was not the Club’s decision but the FA’s very late insistence in their staging of the fixture.
Finally, the Club would like to be able to offer Kenilworth Road as a hosting venue for similar fixtures in future but would only do so on assurance that the Club’s wishes to acknowledge its history are observed.
