Munich: Union of European Football Association (UEFA) has dismissed Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter’s request to lit the Allianz Arena in rainbow colours during the Germany-Hungary encounter at the ongoing Euro 2020.
The Munich Mayor’s request aimed at portraying their solidarity with the LGBTQ community as well as their dissent against the newly-published Hungarian law that forbids the circulation of content in schools that promote homosexuality and gender alternation.
“It is important for the state capital Munich to set a visible sign of solidarity with the LGBTI community in Hungary, which is suffering from the current stricter homophobic and transphobic legislation of the Hungarian government,” the Munich first citizen said in his request application.
The Munich City Council had also indicted Hungary of following the Russian’s path of homophobic and transphobic legislation. However, UEFA dismissed the request stating that even though they are an organization that believes in equality and considers racism, homophobia as stains of the society, the political aspect of the request forces the neutral organization to refrain.
“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,” UEFA statement said. “Discriminatory behaviour has marred both matches themselves and, outside the stadiums, the online discourse around the sport we love.
“However, 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,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, keeping in the good of the request, the European football body has proposed the Allianz Arena to be lit in pride colours on a different date. UEFA has urged the city of Munich to illuminate the stadium with rainbow colours on either 28 June – the Christopher Street Liberation Day – or between 3 and 9 July which is the Cristopher Street Day week in Munich.
However, UEFA has ruled out an allegedly interpreted political move by Manuel Neuer wearing a rainbow armband as ‘promoting a good cause’ in one of Germany’s matches this month.
They are further investigating the potential discriminatory incident of highlighting a homophobic banner in the stands during Hungary’s Euro 2020 face off against Portugal in Budapest. Complaints of racial slurs during France’s 1-1 draw against Hungary has also been filed.
