Serge Aurier urged to engage with Tottenham’s LGBT fans to help build bridges following move from PSG

New signing | Serge Aurier completed his £23m move to Tottenham on transfer deadline day
Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
Richard Parry31 August 2017

Tottenham’s official LGBT supporters group, Proud Lillywhites, have called on Serge Aurier to engage with LGBT fans following his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

The 24-year-old has also been cleared by the Home Office to work in England after he was convicted of assaulting a police officer in France last year. Aurier maintains his innocence and appealed.

But the Ivory Coast international also made headlines following offensive comments he made over social media in the lead-up to PSG’s Champions League match with Chelsea.

Aurier appeared to use homophobic language to insult then manager Laurent Blanc. He initially received an indefinite ban by the club, before returning to the side last season.

As Tottenham’s interest became apparent following the sale of Kyle Walker to Manchester City, fans began to debate whether the controversial full back should be signed.

Following the completion of the deal, the Proud Lillywhites supporters group released a statement following discussion with the club, and have called for education via engagement with LGBT fans – something which is ‘at the top of Serge’s list’.

“We were initially unhappy with the signing, but given our positive dialogue with the club we would like to use this as an opportunity to build bridges and make lasting change,” the statement read.

"But this is a journey – we don’t want to recriminate. One of our main tools for change is education, so we’d like to see engagement with." 

Proud Lillywhites

“Football has the power to transform individuals’ lives and entire communities. At its best, it doesn’t merely delight us: it can provide us with a chance to transcend geographical boundaries and learn to work and play and celebrate together. Players, Clubs and the Football Authorities need to take this responsibility seriously, so what happens when players such as Serge Aurier who have been openly homophobic in the past join a new club and have a fresh start? It actually gives us an opportunity to talk about the kind of game we want to see, players we want to support; the kind of clubs we want to be and make effective and deep-rooted change.

“We started the Proud Lilywhites in 2014 because we wanted to ensure that every Spurs fan, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity felt safe to enjoy watching their football team, knew they had a community with which to watch it and felt that they belonged. Our flag, which stood tall at White Hart Lane, became a testament to this. We wanted to be at the forefront of social and cultural transformation via football - changing hearts and minds – being part of creating the conditions that ensure all LGBT+ fans and staff feel safe and welcome in the football family.

“But this is a journey – we don’t want to recriminate. One of our main tools for change is education, so we’d like to see engagement with LGBT+ fans is at the top of Serge’s list. We’ve already done great work with Stewards, Club staff and fans and look forward to working with the Club and other supporters, to show Serge Aurier that Spurs fans are incredibly diverse, welcoming and loyal.

“We all love this game and we want to win matches and trophies, but not at any cost. Homophobic language, when unchallenged, can have consequences: we have to be the change we want to see. Making change, player by player, even fan by fan if necessary, is why we’re here and we won’t rest until we’ve done it.

“Welcome to the famous Tottenham Hotspur Serge, we look forward to you getting to know us.”

"This is a fresh start for me and I will do everything to make the Spurs fanbase, which is huge and diverse, proud of me,” he told the club’s official website.

"The fans are the most important people at any club and I am looking forward to showing them and everyone at Spurs the real Serge Aurier.”

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