Crossword Genius

Appear to support team in subordinate event (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sideshow

'subordinate event' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'appear to support team' is the wordplay.
'appear' becomes 'show' (showing is a kind of appearing).
'to support' means one lot of letters go next to another (in a down clue, some letters hold others up).
'team' becomes 'side' (both can mean a sports team).
'show' after 'side' is 'SIDESHOW'.

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for sideshow that I've seen before include "Minor display adjacent to a larger one" , "Subordinate production to the main event" , "Activity subordinate to a larger one" , "Exhibition subordinate to a larger one" , "affair at a fair" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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