Germany has launched a day of protests in response to Uefa’s ban on rainbow colours lighting up the Allianz Arena in Munich during the country’s Euro 2020 match against Hungary.
The mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, had planned the gesture as an act of solidarity after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government passed a law banning LBGT+ content in schools or in TV shows for under-18s.
Reiter said the decision by European football’s governing body was “shameful” and that lighting up the stadium was supposed to show “openness, tolerance and respect”.
The mayor also confirmed rainbow flags will be flown at the city’s town hall, while the Munich Olympic Tower and the wind turbine next to the Bayern Munich stadium will also be lit up with the LGBT+ symbol.
As well as in the political sphere, accusations of homophobia have overshadowed Hungary’s Euro 2020 campaign. There have been allegations into offensive chanting at two of their matches so far – which Uefa said it is investigating – and Cristiano Ronaldo was also targeted with a homophobic banner during Portugal’s 3-0 win at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium in Budapest.
That is the backdrop to which German football clubs are making their feelings known. Clubs in a number of cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Wolfsburg, Augsburg, Bremen and Dusseldorf, will light up their stadia during Wednesday night’s match.
Bavaria’s Lesbian and Gay Association said it will hold protests outside and inside the stadium, while CSD Germany said it was co-operating with other groups, including Queeramnesty, to distribute 11,000 rainbow flags to fans attending the game.
En route to the stadium. Bit early but… Auf geht’s München. ???? pic.twitter.com/k9EGvoFinQ
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) June 23, 2021
Munich’s shopping centres have also added additional rainbow symbols, while the country’s largest sports newspaper, Bild, also showed support with their back cover.
What a cover @BILD ???? pic.twitter.com/820blVhXJL
— Jorge Tavares (@JorgemfTavares) June 22, 2021
Uefa insist gesture is ‘political’
The ban on lighting up the stadium has faced a significant backlash. On Tuesday, i reported how LGBT+ groups accused Uefa of being “no ally of the community”.
Uefa initially released a statement saying it had “proposed alternative dates for the illumination which align better with existing events”, accepting that Germany wanted “to promote diversity and inclusion”.
On Wednesday, it altered its branding to include rainbow colours and added in a further statement:
“Some people have interpreted Uefa’s decision to turn down the city of Munich’s request to illuminate the Munich stadium in rainbow colours for a Euro 2020 match as ‘political’.
“On the contrary, the request itself was political, linked to the Hungarian football team’s presence in the stadium for this evening’s match with Germany.
“For Uefa, the rainbow is not a political symbol, but a sign of our firm commitment to a more diverse and inclusive society”.
Additional reporting from AP
More from i on Euro 2020
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- How Ronaldo’s Coca-Cola stunt could change the face of football sponsorship
- In praise of Emma Hayes, the best pundit at Euro 2020 so far
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
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