There has been anger towards football governing body UEFA after they refused to allow the Munich stadium in which Hungary and Germany were playing their Euro 2020 clash to be lit up in the colours of the Pride flag.
The demand had come as a means of protesting against anti-LGBT laws being passed in Hungary.
The plan had been first unveiled by Munich mayor Dieter Reiter, but the request was refused as UEFA said it did not allow 'political' statements to be made within a football context.
"UEFA understands that the intention is also to send a message to promote diversity and inclusion - a cause, which UEFA has been supporting for many years - having joined forces with European clubs, national teams and their players, launching campaigns and plenty of activities all over Europe to promote the ethos that football should be open to everyone. And consequently, UEFA has proposed alternative dates for the illumination which align better with existing events. Racism, homophobia, sexism, and all forms of discrimination are a stain on our societies - and represent one of the biggest problems faced by the game today. Discriminatory behaviour has marred both matches themselves and, outside the stadiums, the online discourse around the sport we love."
Despite the ban, German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer wore a rainbow armband during the game to show his support, a game in which Germany knocked Hungary out of the competition by drawing with them 2-2.
The Munich mayor said of the refusal:
"I find it shameful that UEFA forbids us to send a message here in Munich for openness, tolerance, respect and solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community. The alternative suggestion of illuminating the Allianz Arena on another day contradicts any message that is supposed to emanate from rainbow lighting. Tomorrow, as the city of Munich, we will still send a clear sign of our solidarity and our respect for sexual equality to Hungary and the world. We will not only fly rainbow flags at Munich town hall - I assume that the city council will decide this tomorrow with a large majority - but also make the wind turbine adjacent to the arena shine brightly and also the Munich Olympic Tower. Because we are concerned with a signal for a non-negotiable basic right for all people: equality and tolerance."
German clubs including Wolfsburg, Cologne and Hertha Berlin have stated that they will light up their stadium in rainbow colours whilst Werder Bremen have put up Pride flags.
Volkswagen Arena tomorrow night 🏳️🌈#VfLWolfsburg pic.twitter.com/XHsZaQ8Vpw
— VfL Wolfsburg EN/US 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@VfLWolfsburg_EN) June 22, 2021
A signal for diversity 🏳️🌈
— 1. FC Cologne (@fckoeln_en) June 22, 2021
During the @DFB_Team_EN game against Hungary on Wednesday evening, the RheinEnergieSTADION pylons will light up in rainbow colours. pic.twitter.com/RMJ0F8kcw6
Unsere "Lüttjen" sind zurück! Einen Tag nach dem Trainingsauftakt gehen auch unsere Kurznachrichten an den Start - ab sofort versorgen wir Euch wieder täglich mit den aktuellsten News rund um #H96. 👇 #NiemalsAllein ⚫⚪💚https://t.co/9aXAN59IXb
— Hannover 96 (@Hannover96) June 22, 2021
[h/t: BBC]
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