Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou says he hopes the club can offer a "form of escapism" and play a unifying role for supporters suffering through the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Postecoglou's Spurs play for the first time since the terror attacks in Israel and subsequent bombardment of Gaza when they host Fulham in the Premier League on Monday in what could be an emotionally charged occasion given the club's strong links to the Jewish community.
Over 1,400 civilians were murdered in terror attacks by Hamas in Israel on October 7 and more than 4,600 people in Gaza have since been killed in Israeli air-strikes, according to the Palestinian authorities.
Postecoglou said his response was being "guided by people who are directly affected" by the conflict and hopes football can offer some relief to the suffering.
"And all I can do as a football manager within our football club is try and provide support, advice, guidance in the best way I can and the best way a football club can to anyone who's struggling with these things," he said.
"I've always felt in sport in general, especially football, the greatest role I can play is just that -- and it sounds trivial at times -- it can be a form of escapism.
"Ninety, 95 minutes where you can take people who are struggling with wherever they are in life just away from it, just for a little while, for that period of time that you know you're around supporting their football club.
"And maybe within that context, we can provide some sort of small solace or comfort or, or even a little bit of joy that takes them away from whatever they're going through."
Spurs have warned supporters not to bring Israeli or Palestinian flags into the ground on Monday as they could be "inflammatory".
Five days after the attacks in Israel, the club released a statement condemning "the horrific and brutal acts of violence against innocent civilians" but making no mention of Hamas or terrorism.
The response has drawn fierce criticism from some Jewish supporters, who feel let down, although some pro-Palestinian fans have argued the statement struck the right note.
Postecoglou said he would not tell any fans "how to feel, how to behave, how to act [or] what to think" but hopes the club can provide some common ground and unity, starting against the Cottagers.
"When football plays that [unifying] role, it can show the best of who we can be as a human race," the Australian continued.
"When you score a winning goal and you hug the guy or girl next to, you’re not really thinking about them, what their upbringings is or where they’ve come from or what they believe or what they did last night or what they are going to do tomorrow.
"You are united as one for that moment.
"You’re just hugging them because they are wearing the same shirt and following the same football team.
"When we go out there on Monday night there will be 60,000 out there – and hundreds of thousands around the world – who just want to see their football team play some exciting football and win a game and give them that joy that only football can bring.
"That’s what football provides. It can provide. And I think that’s our role. It is always our role, irrespective of what the current climate is or what the climate might be next week or in weeks to come."
Spurs have the Premier League's only Israeli player in Manor Solomon, who has appeared shaken by the attacks on his homeland in a series of social media posts.
Postecoglou revealed he had not spoken specifically with the winger, who is recovering from knee surgery, about the situation, but says he is there should Solomon need support.
“Not specifically [about the conflict] but I have spoken to Manor," Postecoglou said.
"He’s dealing with a couple of things, he has just had his surgery as well. I have been helping him through that process.
"It’s not about me trying to extract information from him. I am there. He’s going through what he is going through, like a lot of people in his position.
"Hopefully he feels like there’s a place here where he feels he needs some extra help or guidance, we can give it to him. I am not really sure where that space is.
"That’s going to be determined by him and where he is at.
"The good thing is he feels really positive about the surgery and how it has gone so far. And he is really keen to get back involved with the team.
"What I do try and hopefully do is create an environment here where players feel comfortable. Whether players or staff, or anyone involved with the area that I'm sort of responsible for. If they come in, it's a space where, whatever they need, they can find.
"If that's advice, guidance, just just a shoulder, that's fine.
"I care for all my players, all my staff.
"If there's something that they need to sort of express to me, then hopefully I'll give them that sort of environment to do so.
"Or if I feel like there's something I can say that can help. I will. But again, with a lot of that, it's about being guided by the people themselves, rather than me sort of trying to interject."
