2 days ago
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The UK's oldest professional ice hockey club has said it is "truly sorry" after ditching its rainbow jerseys for its annual Pride Night game to respect the players' "personal beliefs".
Fife Flyers acknowledged the "hurt and disappointment" caused by the Kirkcaldy team's decision to only wear the colourful strip during the warm-up against Guildford Flames on Saturday evening.
The players switched to their normal jerseys for the match at Fife Ice Arena, which the home team went on to lose 6-1.
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In a club statement ahead of the puck drop, the Flyers said: "Following internal discussion, we want to clarify how tonight's Pride Night will now be reflected on the ice.
"The team will wear Pride-themed jerseys during warm-ups and will compete in standard Fife Flyers home jerseys for the game itself.
"This approach allows us to support Pride Night while also respecting the diversity of backgrounds and personal beliefs within our playing group.
"Our commitment to inclusion and our support for the LGBTQ+ community remains unchanged."
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The rainbow kit was due to be auctioned off to raise funds for community hub The Hive Kirkcaldy.
However, the charity said it was "extremely disappointed" in the decision, adding that it had not been informed about the "last-minute" move beforehand.
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A spokesperson said: "In light of this, The Hive have refused to accept any money, strip or donations from the club and left the match immediately.
"We will be writing to them regarding this. The Hive will always stand up for LGBTQIA+ rights and we will not be silenced."
The charity later said it stood by its decision to refuse donations as it thanked members of the public for their "incredible support".
Fife Pride also said it was "angry and deeply disappointed" by the club's decision.
A spokesperson said: "Let us be clear: Pride is not a warm-up. Pride is not optional. And Pride is not something that should be compromised to accommodate 'personal beliefs'.
"When an organisation chooses to scale back visible LGBTQIA+ inclusion, that is a choice, and it has consequences.
"Decisions like this undermine trust, damage relationships with the community, and send a harmful message about whose identities are considered negotiable."
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In response to the backlash, the club apologised the following day.
The Flyers said: "We want to acknowledge the hurt and disappointment many in our community felt due to our decisions on Pride Night.
"We are truly sorry for the impact this had and understand why it has caused upset amongst the community.
"The Fife Flyers are committed to inclusion and aim to be a welcoming club for the LGBTQ+ community and for everyone who supports our team.
"We will reflect on this, continue listening, and work to ensure our values are better reflected in how we move forward."
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