Lyla Lindsey
Tottenham Hotspur, also known as Spurs, flew to Australia in July 2023 for a pre-season tour. The team was managed by head coach Ange Postecoglou, who returned to his homeland of Australia. The trip included matches against West Ham United in Perth, Leicester City in Bangkok, and the Lion City Sailors in Singapore. Spurs also flew to Australia in May 2024 for a post-season friendly against Newcastle at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This trip sparked criticism from fans and climate change campaign groups due to the quick turnaround after the end of the Premier League season and the additional demands placed on players.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the flight | 20 May 2024 |
| Time of the flight | Hours after the final Premier League game |
| Purpose of the trip | Post-season friendly match |
| Opponent | Newcastle |
| Stadium | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Number of players travelling | 24 |
| Absent players | Hugo Lloris, Cristian Romero, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Destiny Udogie, Timo Werner, Ben Davies, Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Giovani Lo Celso, Fraser Forster, Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, Rodrigo Bentancur, Bryan Gil, Troy Parrott, Djed Spence |
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What You'll Learn
Spurs' 2023 Asia-Pacific Tour
Tottenham Hotspur's 2023 Asia-Pacific Tour will see the team travel to Australia, Thailand, and Singapore. The trip marks head coach Ange Postecoglou's homecoming, as well as his first three matches in charge of the club.
The squad and backroom staff will fly to Australia to kick off their pre-season tour. Unfortunately, some players will miss the trip due to injuries and other reasons. Goalkeeper Fraser Forster, for instance, has a back problem, while Rodrigo Bentancur is recovering from surgery on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Club captain Hugo Lloris is also a notable absentee, given permission to explore transfer opportunities.
In Australia, Spurs will face Premier League rivals West Ham United in Perth on Tuesday, 11 am UK time. They will then travel to Thailand to play Leicester City at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Sunday, 23 July, with kick-off at 5 pm local time. The tour will conclude in Singapore, where Spurs will take on the Singapore Premier League side Lion City Sailors in The Tiger Cup at the Singapore National Stadium on Wednesday, 26 July, with a 7:30 pm kick-off (local time).
The 2023 Asia-Pacific Tour is not the first time Spurs have travelled to Australia. In May 2024, they flew to Australia hours after their final Premier League game to play a post-season friendly. This trip, however, drew criticism from fans and climate change campaign groups, with concerns raised about the additional demands placed on players in an already congested fixture calendar.
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Criticism from fans
Tottenham Hotspur's decision to fly to Australia for a post-season friendly just hours after their final Premier League game of the season against Sheffield United has sparked criticism from fans. This trip to Australia marks the fourth time that Spurs have travelled to play matches in captain Son Heung-Min's homeland.
Fan Criticism
Fans took to social media to express their disappointment with the club's decision, with some labelling the trip as "ridiculous" and "greed". One fan sarcastically pointed out the irony of the players being "too tired" to play FA Cup replays but having the energy to fly to Australia shortly after the season ended. Another fan accused the club of "money-making at the expense of the players' health".
The timing of the trip, so soon after a long season, was a common concern among fans, with some questioning the impact on player welfare. This sentiment was echoed by head coach Ange Postecoglou, who acknowledged that the timing was ""not ideal" and that it was unlikely a similar trip would be scheduled in the future.
Some fans also criticised the players' behaviour, with one commenting that some players appeared to be "in holiday mode" on the flight to Australia.
In addition to fan backlash, the fixture has also drawn criticism from climate change campaign groups and raised questions about the extra demands placed on players in an already congested fixture calendar.
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Injured players missing the trip
Spurs' trip to Australia in July 2023 for their pre-season tour and again in May 2024 for a post-season friendly match has been marred by the absence of several injured players. In 2023, goalkeeper Fraser Forster and Rodrigo Bentancur were left behind in London due to injuries. Forster had a back problem, while Bentancur was rehabilitating after surgery on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Winger Bryan Gil and striker Troy Parrott also missed the trip due to back and groin issues, respectively. Additionally, club captain Hugo Lloris was absent as he explored transfer opportunities, and Djed Spence was racing to recover from a knee injury.
In 2024, the Spurs squad travelled to Australia without Cristian Romero and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who were notable absentees. Several other players, including Destiny Udogie, Timo Werner, Ben Davies, Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Giovani Lo Celso, Ryan Sessegnon, and Manor Solomon, missed the trip due to injuries.
The decision to travel to Australia for these matches has drawn criticism from fans and even head coach Ange Postecoglou, who acknowledged that the timing was "not ideal." The trip raised questions about the extra demands placed on players, especially with the European Championship approaching in 2024. Despite the criticism, the matches in Australia provided an opportunity for the team to compete in Postecoglou's homeland and face Premier League rivals.
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The fixture being labelled hypocritical
Tottenham Hotspur's decision to fly to Australia for a friendly match has been labelled hypocritical by fans, who pointed out the club's earlier complaints about FA Cup replays and the impacts on player welfare. Spurs were one of the 'big six' clubs that lobbied to have fifth-round FA Cup replays abolished from the following season to avoid player fatigue. However, their trip to Australia, just hours after their final Premier League game, drew criticism from fans who questioned the extra demands placed on players amid a congested fixture calendar.
The fixture in Australia was particularly controversial as it came after Tottenham's quest for a ninth FA Cup ended in a fourth-round 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in January. The club had expressed concerns about the workload on players earlier in the season, yet they proceeded with the friendly match in Australia, leading to accusations of hypocrisy.
Adding to the controversy, the trip to Australia marked the fourth time that Spurs had travelled to play matches in captain Son Heung-Min's homeland. The decision to embark on this tour, despite the congested fixture calendar and player welfare concerns, further fuelled the perception of hypocrisy among fans.
Furthermore, the Asia-Pacific Tour 2023, which included matches in Australia, Thailand, and Singapore, was Ange Postecoglou's first as their head coach. The Australian boss faced pressure as Tottenham struggled in the Premier League, and the decision to undertake this tour so soon after the end of the season added to the criticism and accusations of hypocrisy regarding player welfare.
While some fans expressed their fury, others defended the decision, acknowledging the uniqueness of each situation. Postecoglou himself acknowledged the less-than-ideal timing of the friendly and stated that it was unlikely to happen again in the future. Despite the backlash, the club proceeded with the trip, highlighting the complexities of managing player welfare, fan expectations, and commercial interests in the context of a demanding football calendar.
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Spurs' 2024 trip to Australia
Tottenham Hotspur, also known as Spurs, flew to Australia in July 2023 for a pre-season tour. The trip marked head coach Ange Postecoglou's return to his homeland, with the team facing Premier League rivals West Ham United in Perth. The 2023 Asia-Pacific tour also included matches in Thailand and Singapore.
Spurs flew to Australia again in May 2024, hours after their final Premier League game of the season. They played a post-season friendly against Newcastle at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This trip also marked Postecoglou's return to his homeland, and it was the fourth time that Spurs had travelled to Australia—the homeland of captain Son Heung-Min.
The decision to travel to Australia in 2024 was met with criticism from Spurs fans and players alike. Supporters questioned the club's motives, accusing them of prioritising money over player welfare. The trip came after Tottenham had lobbied to abolish FA Cup replays to avoid player fatigue. Some fans sarcastically noted the irony, pointing out the contrast between the club's concerns about fatigue and their willingness to fly to Australia shortly after the season's conclusion.
Players such as James Maddison appeared to be in holiday mode on the flight, and fans expressed concern about the impact of the trip on the players' health and the added demands it placed on them. Despite the criticism, Postecoglou defended the trip, acknowledging its uniqueness and stating that it held substance for the team.
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Frequently asked questions
Spurs flew to Australia on July 14, 2023, for a pre-season tour.
Ange Postecoglou, who was appointed head coach the previous month, flew with Spurs to his homeland in 2023.
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster and Rodrigo Bentancur did not fly to Australia due to injuries. Club captain Hugo Lloris was also absent as he was given permission to explore transfer opportunities.
Spurs flew to Australia on May 20, 2024, for a post-season friendly.
