Euro 2020: UEFA REJECT appeal for rainbow colours to light Allianz Arena for Germany vs Hungary

UEFA have blocked a request to illuminate Munich’s Allianz Arena with rainbow colours during Germany’s last Euro 2020 group game in protest at a new anti-LGBT law passed by opponents Hungary.

Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter filed a request to use the rainbow colours with European football’s governing body last week, saying he wanted to take a stance against new  Hungarian laws banning children’s content that features gay or transgender people.

But UEFA rejected the request today, saying that while it supports LGBT rights it is bound by its founding charters to remain ‘politically neutral’ and so could not give its blessing to a nakedly political act.

That is despite the fact that UEFA has allowed players including the English national side to take a knee before their games – a political gesture adopted from America that is designed to protest racial inequality.   

UEFA have blocked the request to light up the Allianz Arena in rainbow colours on Wednesday

‘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,’ a statement from UEFA read.

‘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.’

UEFA proposed new dates to Munich to light up the Allianz Arena, on either June 28 or between June 3 and July 9.

The June 28 date is Christopher Street Liberation Day, which is an annual LGBT celebration and demonstration held in several European cities for the rights of LGBT people, and against discrimination and exclusion. 

Furthermore, the July 3-9 date represents the Christopher Street Day week which takes place in Munich.

Hungary travel to Munich for their final Group F game on Wednesday night, with the city’s mayor having applied to light the Allianz Arena up in rainbow colours in support of the LGBT community. 

‘This is an important sign of tolerance and equality,’ said Munich’s mayor after the law was passed in Hungary, which has since been denounced as anti-LGBT discrimination by human rights groups.

UEFA recently abandoned an investigation into Manuel Neuer for wearing a rainbow armband in support of LGBT rights

Reiter acted after Munich’s city councillors called for the stadium to be illuminated following the passing of the law in Hungary.

‘The Bavarian state capital supports diversity, tolerance and genuine equality in sport and in society,’ read the motion. ‘On the occasion of the match between Germany and Hungary, the council wishes to send a visible message of solidarity to the LGBT community in Hungary, which is suffering under recent legislation passed by the Hungarian government.

‘This law represents a new nadir in the disenfranchisement of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people, the latest in a series of measures over the years which constitute a systematic restriction of the rule of law and basic freedoms in Hungary.’

The latest news comes after UEFA were forced into an embarrassing climbdown on Sunday after they abandoned an investigation into Germany captain Manuel Neuer for wearing a rainbow armband in support of LGBT rights.

Germany take on Hungary in their final Euro 2020 group game on Wednesday night in Munich

Neuer was facing a fine if his armband — which he wore in both group games against France and Portugal, plus a warm-up friendly against Latvia — was deemed to be in breach of UEFA’s rules on political symbols.

But just hours after UEFA opened their investigation, the German FA (DFB) tweeted: ‘UEFA have today shared with the DFB that they have stopped the review of the rainbow captain’s armband worn by Manuel Neuer.

‘In a letter, the armband has been assessed as a team symbol for diversity and thus for a ‘good cause’.’

Meanwhile, UEFA will investigate anti-LGBT banners in the stands at Hungary’s matches with Portugal and France in Budapest.