Uefa vetoes illuminating Munich stadium in rainbow colours at Euro 2020 football match
- The Uefa decision was welcomed in Hungary but it drew wide-ranging criticism in Germany, with Munich’s mayor dismissing it as ‘shameful’
- Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soeder tweeted the illumination would have been ‘a very good sign for tolerance and freedom’
The Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) has ruled that Munich’s stadium cannot be illuminated in rainbow colours for Wednesday's Euro 2020 match between Germany and Hungary, a decision dismissed as “shameful” by the city's mayor.
Uefa said on Tuesday it has rejected an according motion from Munich's city council because it would represent a political message in response to a Hungarian law.
The Uefa decision drew wide-ranging criticism in Germany while it was welcomed in Hungary.
Last Tuesday, the Hungarian parliament approved a law that restricts the information rights of young people with regards to homosexuality and transgenderism. The law is considered important for right-wing conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The Munich motion was made as a signal to promote diversity. Rainbow colours are often used by people in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
Uefa acknowledged that “all forms of discrimination … represent one of the biggest problems faced by the game today” and that such behaviour has marred the sport but also said that “Uefa, through its statutes, is a politically and religiously neutral organisation.
“Given the political context of this specific request – a message aiming at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament – Uefa must decline this request,” Uefa said.
Uefa also suggested the stadium should be illuminated with the rainbow colours on June 28 for Christopher Street Day or between July 3-9 for the Christopher Street Day week in the German city.
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This proposal was dismissed as “ridiculous” by Munich mayor Dieter Reiter who lashed out at Uefa but also criticised the German Football Federation (DFB) for not having helped.
“I find it shameful that Uefa forbids us here in Munich to give a sign of openness to the world, for tolerance, for respect and for solidarity with the many people in the LGBT community,” Reiter said.
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soeder tweeted the illumination would have been “a very good sign for tolerance and freedom”.
“Caving in to autocrats has never led to anything good,” said Katarina Barley, a European parliament vice-president from Germany.
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Markus Apel from Bavaria's gay and lesbian grouping LSVD said those owning the stadium should resist the Uefa decision and illuminate the arena after all in rainbow colours, while also announcing protests outside the stadium.
“Uefa shows very clearly which side it is on. It is not on the side of those who work for a diverse and fair society, but on the side of those who restrict diversity and want to deprive people of their rights,” Apel said.
But DFB interim president Rainer Koch defended Uefa on Facebook, saying the motion “was not just a statement in the joint fight against all kinds of discrimination but a political act” which could not be approved.
Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto welcomed “a right decision” from Uefa at a European Union meeting in Luxembourg, adding Uefa “decided not to get caught up in a political provocation against Hungary”.
Other German stadiums, such as Berlin's Olympic Stadium and arenas in Frankfurt and Cologne, are now to be illuminated in the rainbow colours during the match, and Reiter promised rainbow flags at city hall on game day.
Germany captain Manuel Neuer can meanwhile continue wearing a rainbow coloured armband as Uefa has stopped a review into this matter.
Uefa has allowed players and officials to taking a knee before matches.
