Southampton fans mocked their bitter rivals with a giant banner.

Southampton football fans trolled Portsmouth

According to The Sun: Southampton football fans decided to jokingly poke fun at their bitter rivals Portsmouth by unfurling a provocative tifo on Sunday.

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These south coast rivals met in the league for the first time in 13 years, and Saints fans decided to remind everyone of old feuds.

Shutterstock Editorial Saints revealed a tifo of James Beattie cupping his ears

Before the match began, fans in the Northam stand at St Mary’s unveiled a huge tifo featuring Southampton legend James Beattie holding his hands to his ears.

The image of Beattie celebrating one of his goals against Portsmouth 22 years ago mocks the rival fans.

“On December 2, 2003, Beattie scored both goals in a 2-0 win for Saints in the League Cup at St Mary’s”

After the first goal, which flew past goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek, Beattie walked over to the Portsmouth fans and covered his mouth, holding his hands to his ears.

This gesture made him a hero to Saints fans, while remaining an eternal enemy to Portsmouth supporters.

The tifo was made in partnership with various Southampton fan groups

Saints fans could barely contain their emotions as the tifo was carried above their heads just meters away from Pompey fans.

This display was funded by sportsbook and casino operator Midnite in close collaboration with the tifo committee, which includes various Southampton supporter groups.

“This is a landmark meeting in English football, and we wanted to capture the history of this rivalry”

The words of Andrew Mook from Midnite confirm they were hoping Saints fans would appreciate this initiative!

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This event reaffirms the tension in the competition between Southampton and Portsmouth, which has lasted for several decades. The classic rivalry is based not only on football achievements but also on deep historical roots, making their clashes particularly intriguing for fans of both teams. Fans of both clubs always show their passion and creativity, as the rivalry extends beyond the games to the culture of support.