On the one hand, a team and a federation embracing its pro-LGBT convictions.
On the other hand, a nation led by a nationalist and xenophobic head of state (Viktor Orban) and of which a fringe of football supporters refuses to adhere to the opening speeches, which they defend LGBT causes as anti-racist.
Here is more or less the basic political opposition that will surround the Euro 2021 meeting between Germany and Hungary on Wednesday.
For the occasion, the municipal council of the City of Munich wishes to mark the occasion and dreams of seeing the exterior facade of the Allianz Arena light up in rainbow colors, which has already been done on several occasions. . This is to respond to the adoption earlier this week in Hungary of a bill to ban the "promotion" of homosexuality among minors. Clearly, it will no longer be possible to put up an advertisement showing two men kissing, or to broadcast extracts from films and series evoking homosexuality.
"In this situation, so soon after the adoption of this legislation, the German national team's match against Hungary provides a public platform to send the message that Munich stands for a diverse and tolerant society," said the German national team. motion forwarded to socialist mayor Dieter Reiter to defend it with UEFA.
“Sport, and football in particular, also upholds these values.
Can we read in the text, accompanied by an online petition already signed by nearly 67,000 people.
Neuer has been wearing a rainbow armband since the start of the Euro
This request is not very surprising given the positions posted by the Mannschaft since the start of the tournament.
Already committed in recent months to the defense of human rights in Qatar, where the next World Cup will be held in 2022, Germany supports the LGBT cause through its captain Manuel Neuer.
Es ist angerichtet.
👌🏼🇩🇪 #FRAGER #DieMannschaft #GER # EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/v2cUeAJzZt
- Die Mannschaft (@DFB_Team) June 15, 2021
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper wears a rainbow-colored armband at each Euro match.
Ten years ago, Neuer had had a speech as powerful as it was rare about the coming out of footballers.
He had asked his “gay” colleagues in the magazine Bunte to “come out of the closet to be able to let off steam”.
“What matters is the performance on the pitch, not your sexual preferences,” he added.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Manuel Neuer (@manuelneuer)
In recent years, Hungary has consistently restricted the rights of the LGBT community.
Last December, the very rightist Prime Minister Viktor Orban had already banned adoption by same-sex couples and included the traditional notion of the family in the constitution.
This policy is difficult to pass within the European Union, whose charter of fundamental rights prohibits any discrimination based on sexual orientation. However, it meets with a certain echo with some of the country's football supporters. Particularly within the “Carpathian Brigade”, a neo-Nazi group made up of members of far-right groups and very present in the Puskas Arena in Budapest. Accused of having sung homophobic songs against Cristiano Ronaldo last Tuesday, they deployed this Saturday in the streets of Budapest a banner opposing the kneeling decided by some teams to protest against any form of racism.
Hungary punished for fans racism in Euro qualifiers;
now with that weirdly full stadium, homophobic banner in the week, today fans marching against taking the knee;
all feels quite disturbing.
pic.twitter.com/jGa6NF7uYo
- David Conn (@david_conn) June 19, 2021
