UEFA rejects Munich plea for ‘rainbow lights’
UEFA’s decision to block plans by Munich to light the Allianz Arena in rainbow colors for the Germany-Hungary Euro 2020 match was met yesterday with defiance in the Bavarian city which vowed to decorate other landmarks in protest at a law passed by the Hungarian government.
“UEFA is a politically and religiously neutral organization,” European football’s governing body said in a statement ahead of today’s match.
“Given the political context of this request — a message aimed at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament — UEFA must refuse.”
Munich mayor Dieter Reiter slammed UEFA’s decision as “shameful” and unveiled plans to decorate other city landmarks in rainbow colors in defiance.
“I find it shameful that UEFA forbids us to send a sign for cosmopolitanism, tolerance, respect and solidarity with the people of the LGBTIQ community.”
He plans to put up rainbow-colored flags at the Munich town hall and illuminate a huge wind turbine located close to the stadium, as well as the city’s 291-meter Olympic Tower.
Reiter had wanted the Allianz Arena — owned by Bayern Munich —in rainbow colors for the crucial Group F match to “send a visible sign of solidarity” with Hungary’s LGBTIQ community.
Hungary’s government last week passed a law banning the “promotion” of homosexuality to minors, outlawing any educational programs or material in which homosexuality is mentioned.
UEFA’s stance also drew criticism from Germany’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer community.
“We find it very disconcerting how UEFA deals with values that should generally be accepted in society,” Markus Ulrich, a spokesman for Germany’s Lesbian and Gay Association, said.
“UEFA has not recognised the signs of the times -- and it is clear to see which side it is taking with its decision.”
While the Allianz Arena will not be lit in rainbow colors today, other football stadiums in Germany will.
Berlin’s iconic Olympic Stadium, as well as Bundesliga stadiums in Cologne, Frankfurt and Wolfsburg all plan to be colorfully lit. “Cologne stands for diversity and tolerance. The developments in Hungary are frightening — it is all the more important to set an example against this,” a spokesman said.
However, UEFA’s stance was welcomed in Budapest, where Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto hailed the “right decision.”
“The leadership of UEFA made the right decision by not assisting in a political provocation against Hungary,” Szijjarto said in a statement yesterday.
While the request for the day of the match was rejected, UEFA has suggested alternative dates for June 28, which is Christopher Street Liberation Day, an annual celebration and demonstration held in various cities across Europe, or from July 3-9, the week of pride marches in Munich.
The last European Championship match in Munich takes place on July 2.
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