Details here The official Arsenal website doesn't appear to give any indication as to the reason, other than a number of complaints about some flag that was being waved. Apparently it was a Turkish Cypriot Nationalist flag, seems a bit over the top but I guess once you start banning one flag then where do you stop. From a search I found the following Arsenal agrees to lower ‘TRNC’ flag FOLLOWING a campaign by thousands of Greek Cypriots, Arsenal football club has agreed to ban the display of a ‘TRNC’ flag but has had to bar all national emblems as a result. “Some of our fans have been upset with the flying of certain flags denoting particular regions of the world. "Arsenal as a club prides itself on being inclusive with respect to all nationalities, cultural and ethnic groups," said an official Arsenal statement issued this week. †"We have therefore decided that in order that all of our fans can enjoy their experiences at Emirates Stadium we are asking all fans to only fly flags in support of Arsenal Football Club with no national emblems," it added. This policy will be enforced with immediate effect starting with Arsenal's home game against Portsmouth on Saturday. The appearance of the flag at the Emirates Stadium, the newly-built home of Arsenal, caused an outcry among London's Greek Cypriot community, many of who follow the "Gunners". Two Greek Cypriots set up the www.igreek.co.uk website as a Greek community website where fans from across the world could connect, they then added the petition as a link from their site so people could add their names to the petition in protest at the flag. In fact, the site became so popular it is now under reconstruction due to it being unable to cope with the volume of traffic. The issue snowballed with the Cypriot diaspora in London going on the offensive to ensure Arsenal made a U-turn on the divisive flag issue. Over 10,000 football fans lodged their disapproval on the igreek site where a petition was launched and submitted to the top-flight London club and last season's European Champions Cup finalists. Due to the strength of opposition Arsenal had no other alternative but to withdraw its consent concerning the "TRNC" flag. "We didn't expect them to come up with this option," said the founders of igreek. "We brought our petition to the table and reflected the voice of the people. This decision was made by Arsenal Football Club." Those who fought for the removal of the flag want to stress that this issue had nothing to do with racism or trying to fan the flames of hatred, but the exact opposite. "We don't want politics to get into our local club," said igreek. "There are people who have been watching Arsenal for thirty years who have lost their homes (in Cyprus) they don't want to be reminded of that every time they go to a game." Some Arsenal season ticket holders even refused to go and watch home games until the flag issue was resolved. Moreover, the petition is said to have taken on global proportions with fans from Australia to Romania supporting the flag's removal. The illustrious north London club can call on a huge Greek Cypriot following in the English capital but their allegiance to the 'gunners' came under threat with the presence of the offending flag that symbolises Turkey's occupation of Cyprus. Arsenal has received complaints about the flag making regular appearances at home games but said it would take no action. The club previously argued that the flag was being displayed by an individual during games and then removed afterwards. Arsenal sought legal advice that determined the unfurling of the flag in a public place is not illegal. However, Arsenal conceded to being stuck between "a rock and a hard place" as it enjoys support from both sides of the Cyprus divide. It also argued that the ‘TRNC’ flag flies over the Turkish Cypriot representative office in London and has done so for years without incurring so much as a fine. The new multi-million pound stadium, in Ashburton Grove, is situated in an area where there is a visible Turkish community. Around 250,000 Greek Cypriots live in the London area alone and Arsenal fans in the community rallied strong support against the flag. However, Arab supporters have also complained about the appearance of Israeli flags at the stadium as well. Arsenal moved into their new 60,432 capacity home in July making the Emirates Stadium the second largest stadium in the Premiership after Old Trafford. http://www.cyprusweekly.com.cy/default.aspx?articleID=7856&heading=Local News
its a flag wish someone somewhere when ballacks like this is raised would inject some common. A spokesman for Arsenal said "It's a flag ffs, if you don't like theirs than bring your own and wave it, now fack off and get a life, jeeez"
