Luton Town fan groups have tonight condemned the covering up of Hatters fans’ famous ‘Betrayed by the FA’ flag during tonight’s 4-1 England Under-21 victory over Austria at Kenilworth Road.
Two supporters organisations have said that fans are “dismayed” and have “expressed their outrage” at the act and have called on the football club for some “background behind the act”.
The huge banner has hung in the Main Stand of the Hatters home stadium since The FA and The Football League combined to slap Town with a 30-point penalty, which effectively relegated the club out of the Football League before a ball had been kicked in the 2008/09 season.
It is a points penalty that has never since been matched and one that consigned the club to five years in the non-league.
Fans at the international friendly as well as respected national journalist Henry Winter posted on social media during the England U21 game that the bottom part of the flag containing the wording about the FA had been rolled up to hide the wording.
Some reports then claimed that the flag was unfurled before being ordered to be rolled up again and protected by stewards and now fan groups are demanding answers.
In a statement Luton Town Supporters’ Trust said: “The LTST board is disappointed to discover that the bottom part of the ‘Betrayed by the FA’ flag that proudly hangs in the corner of the Main Stand at Kenilworth Road was covered up during the England Under-21 friendly match against their Austria counterparts on Monday evening.
“Our members, along with the wider supporter base have expressed their outrage at such an action.
“The flag is a symbol of how our club fought back from the brink of extinction and acts as a reminder of the past, fuelling us as a fanbase.
“LTST strong condemns the covering up of the flag and as such we have asked the club for some background behind the act.
“Once we have this information we will relay it in a further statement.”
The Loyal Luton Supporters’ Club also hit out at the decision, saying in a statement: “Loyal Luton is left deeply disappointed and dismayed by the covering of the “Betrayed by the FA” flag during the England U-21 match. We were led to believe it would be displayed in full.
“This flag symbolizes LTFC’s remarkable rise from near collapse, and its message is crucial—a reminder of the club’s history and the struggles we’ve overcome. LLSC demands an explanation of who made the decision to hide it and why.
“The flag represents more than a grievance—it’s a voice for supporters still hurt by the FA’s 2008 actions. Silencing it for an external event is deeply disappointing.
“Never forgive, never forget.”
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