Topline
Europe’s soccer governing body UEFA has rejected Munich city council’s request to illuminate the Allianz Arena football stadium in rainbow colors for Germany’s Euro 2020 match against Hungary Wednesday, deeming it a political statement given the recent passing of an anti-LGBT+ law by Hungarian parliament.
Key Facts
In a statement Tuesday, UEFA said Mayor Dieter Reiter’s request to display the rainbow colors on the Allianz Stadium was openly a political “message aiming at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament.”
Reiter had said he wanted to use the colors—a symbol for the LGBT+ community—to protest the new law passed by Hungarian parliament prohibiting the dissemination of materials related to LGBT+ issues in schools.
Given UEFA’s status as a “politically and religiously neutral organisation,” it said it “must decline” the request, proposing alternate dates for the illumination which “align better with existing events.”
UEFA said the best way to fight discrimination is “in close collaboration with others,” adding that “all forms of discrimination are a stain on our societies.”
Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto, having doubled down on the law to “protect Hungarian children” Monday, praised UEFA’s decision, saying “thank God” that “common sense still prevails.”
Unhappy with the decision, other clubs in Germany have stepped up to fill the gap, with stadia in Cologne and Frankfurt already promising to turn on the rainbow lights.
What To Watch For
The decision to ban rainbow lights at the Allianz Arena comes shortly after a UEFA investigation determined the rainbow armband worn by Manuel Neuer, Germany’s captain, to be a "symbol of diversity and thus a good cause" and not subject to its ban on political symbols.
Key Background
Hungary’s parliament approved the bill against sharing LGBT+ content with minors last week, with only one independent politician voting against it as opposition parties boycotted the vote. The effort, led by Viktor Orbán’s ruling right wing party ahead of an election in 2022, has been compared by critics to Russia’s 2013 law against “gay propaganda” and roundly condemned as a step back for LGBT+ rights in Hungary. The law also prevents LGBT+ people or symbols (including the rainbow flag) from appearing in educational materials or shows for minors.
Further Reading
Hungary Bans Gay Content In Schools As Right Wing PM Orban Prepares For Next Year’s Election (Forbes)
