Tottenham LGBT fans group responds to Serge Aurier’s signing after ‘openly homophobic’ comments
The controversial defender signed a £23million deal with the North London side on deadline day and the LGBT community are willing to give him a second chance
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TOTTENHAM'S LGBT community have spoken out about the club's signing of Serge Aurier from PSG.
The Ivory Coast international had a turbulent past in Paris that included a homophobic rant and a conviction for assaulting a police officer.
But the Proud Lilywhites, the official LGBT Supporters' Association for the Spurs, are willing to look beyond Aurier's tainted history and invite him to engage with their diverse fan base.
Although, the Proud Lilywhites admit they were initially unhappy with the signing in the statement on the groups website.
The former PSG star was suspended by the club last February for slurs against his coach Laurent Blanc and goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu in a social media interaction with fans.
The 24-year-old called Blanc "a faggot" and when asked is Blanc "sucks" Ibrahimovic, he responded: "Yeah and he takes the balls with it. He takes everything."
When asked which goalkeeper was better, Kevin Trapp or Salvatore Sirigu, he said: "Trapp, Sirigu is gay."
But for the Spurs fan group, they see his signing as a way to build bridges and encourage change with Aurier being at the forefront of that change.
Co-chairs Chris Paouros and Simon Gray wrote: "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?"
"...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."
Aurier, who signed a £23m deal with the Spurs on deadline-day, has promised to clean up his act at his new club and show the fans and the club "the real Serge Aurier."
In a statement he wrote: "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."
It remains to be seen if the right-back will turn a new leaf with the Lilywhites, but he has the support of their LGBT community.
Paouros and Gray added: "Welcome to the famous Tottenham Hotspur Serge we look forward to you getting to know us."
