Rainbow flag moved to new location at Tottenham's stadium after Slavia Prague request

LONDON (AP) — A rainbow flag showing support for the LGBTQ+ community has been moved to a new location inside Tottenham's stadium for the Champions League match against Sparta Prague following a request from the Czech team, Spurs said Tuesday.

The Progress Pride flag is constantly displayed in the north-east corner of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, close to the area of the ground which hosts away fans.

For the match against Slavia, the flag is in the south-west corner of the stadium.

“The flag has been relocated at the request of the visiting team to UEFA on security grounds," Tottenham said.

The decision was criticized by Proud Lilywhites, Tottenham’s official LGBTQI+ supporters’ group, which said Slavia “raised concerns that some of their supporters may damage the flag and cause disorder if it remains in its usual location.”

“Let’s be honest about what this means," the group said. “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 LGBTQI+ fans still face across European football.”

Tottenham reportedly made representation to keep the flag in its original place but reluctantly accepted it should move due to safety grounds.

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Team of Slavia lines up for the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Tottenham and Slavia Prague, in London, England, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Pelham)

LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Former National Women's Soccer League director Tatjana Haenni will join Leipzig as chief executive next month, making her one of the most high-profile female executives working in European men's soccer.

A former Swiss national team player, Haenni was NWSL Chief Sporting Director from 2023 until earlier this year and before that headed up FIFA's work on women's soccer and the Women's World Cup.

Leipzig said Wednesday that Haenni will start as CEO on Jan. 1. She will oversee a club with men's and women's German Bundesliga teams and which reached the men's Champions League semifinals in 2020.

“I can’t wait to get started in January and to get to know the club on a deeper level,” Haenni said in a statement. “Together, we want to continue on what is already a successful path, and achieve our ambitious goals.”

As part of the wider Red Bull network of clubs around the world, Haenni is set to work together with ex-Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp, who has been the drinks giant's head of global soccer since last year.

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FILE - Tatjana Haenni, FIFA deputy director of the competitions division and head of women's football, listens during the opening news conference for the FIFA Women's World Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Thursday, June 4, 2015. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)