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Debate about the Munich stadium in rainbow colors: "You don't want to snub Orban"

2021-06-26T13:05:24.366Z


As a signal against the LGBTQ-hostile censorship law of the Hungarian government, the city council wants the Munich arena to shine in rainbow colors during the European Championship match between Germany and Hungary. But UEFA has the last word.


Enlarge image

On the occasion of the Christopher Street Day in 2016, the Munich Allianz Arena was already shining brightly

Photo:

Tobias Hase / dpa

The European football association Uefa has received mail from Bavaria.

Last week, the parliamentary groups in Munich's city council voted for the Allianz Arena in Fröttmanning to shine in rainbow colors during the game between Hungary and Germany on Wednesday, as a symbol of diversity and tolerance.

Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter submitted a corresponding application to Uefa President Alexander Ceferin.

For the organizers in Munich, it would be no problem to let the arena shine in rainbow colors.

"Technically it is possible, there is practically only a switch," said the organizing committee.

However, it is assumed that Uefa will not agree to the action.

The request of the Munich city council for rainbow lighting is a reaction to the policy of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Last Tuesday, the Hungarian parliament approved a law restricting young people's right to information about homosexuality and transsexuality.

The law is a particular concern of Orbán.

A member of the organizing committee in Munich told SPIEGEL.

“Uefa will most likely not risk an affront.

You don't want to snub Orbán. "

As the host of the European Championship, the final say in the decision: Uefa.

The Hungarian Sándor Csányi, a confidante of the ruler Orbán, is the vice-president of the association.

Uefa has not yet officially commented on the issue.

EM games are played in Budapest; the city is the only location that allows games to be played in front of full ranks and thus provides Uefa with magnificent TV pictures.

It is currently being discussed whether the European Championship final, which is actually planned in London's Wembley Stadium, will be moved to Budapest because of the spread of the Corona Delta variant in England.

In the past few months, the capital of Hungary had already stepped in as the venue for games of the Uefa Champions League, for example when it was not allowed to play in arenas such as Liverpool due to the corona infection.

Examination of Neuer's rainbow captain's armband

Sports associations generally react critically when their events are used for political statements.

The fact that the German national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer wore a captain's armband in rainbow colors in the games against Portugal and France was investigated by Uefa.

She campaigns for equality herself.

On Sunday she came to the conclusion that the armband was a "sign of diversity" and stopped the investigation.

Six weeks ago, the organizers of the European Championship games in Munich received an application from a "private group" demanding that the Allianz Arena shine in rainbow colors during the tournament.

The request was ignored and rejected with the argument that Uefa insisted on a "uniform appearance" of the stadiums for the time of the European Championship.

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2021-06-26

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