Euro 2021: Change causes a stir - UEFA reveals details

The rainbow flag as a symbol of solidarity is an integral part of the European Football Championship.

Now the symbol appeared on advertising boards.

Europe - The rainbow flag remains a dominant theme at the European Football Championship.

At the weekend, the colorful symbol could be seen in several stages.

UEFA allowed its sponsors to support their digital perimeter advertising with a colored rainbow-style background.

Several corporations took part in the action during the European Championship round of 16 - including Volkswagen and Lieferando.

The discussion about displaying the rainbow colors to show solidarity with non-heterosexual people runs like a red thread through this European championship.

The UEFA ban on having the Munich Allianz Arena, which had a different name during the tournament, lit up in rainbow colors during the preliminary round match against Hungary (2-2) caused a stir.

According to investigations, however, it was permitted to wear the colorful symbol on the captain's armband.

Both the German captain Manuel Neuer, who will meet England with his team at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday - and Holland's Georginio Wijnaldum had rainbow colors on their arms.

European Football Championship: UEFA welcomes advertising partners' rainbow advertising

The European Football Union has welcomed the rainbow advertising of some partners during the European Championship games on Saturday.

The decision to do so is up to each sponsor and that “to convey a message of tolerance and equality” is absolutely supported, said UEFA.

During the round of 16 games in Amsterdam and London, some advertising boards and lettering were brightly colored - especially in view of “Pride Week”, which was celebrated on Saturday with the annual Christopher Street Day in Berlin, among other places.

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Rainbow colors as a sign of solidarity: The perimeter advertising at the EM speaks a clear language.

© Moritz Mueller / Imago Images

The rainbow colors as a symbol of tolerance and sexual and gender diversity had been a huge EM topic in the past few weeks because UEFA had prohibited the Munich arena from shining brightly for the German game against Hungary.

This was preceded by a motion from the city of Munich, which was also aimed at protesting a law passed in Hungary that restricts young people's rights to information with regard to homosexuality and transsexuality.

On Friday, July 2nd, in the quarter-finals between Italy and Belgium, the perimeter advertising in the Munich arena should at least shine brightly.

We firmly believe in equal rights for everyone, including supporting the LGBTQI + community

UEFA

“We firmly believe in equal rights for everyone, including supporting the LGBTQI + community,” wrote UEFA about the sponsorship campaigns, referring to its own “Equal Game” campaign.

The umbrella association justified the ban in Munich with the political background of the application.

The UEFA had come under massive criticism for the decision.

Euro 2021: UEFA allows rainbow flags in Hungarian stadium

In the evening, UEFA announced that it had informed the Hungarian association that flags with a rainbow were not political and allowed in the stadium.

This allowed fans to take such flags with them to the game between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic (0: 2) in the Puskas Arena.

According to Dutch media reports, the flags were banned in the fan zone.

UEFA made it clear afterwards that this area was subject to the local authorities - in this case Budapest or Hungary.

The abbreviation LGBTQI + stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, trans and other non-heterosexual people or people who do not identify with the traditional role model of men and women or other social norms relating to gender and sexuality.

(mbu / dpa) 

List of rubric lists: © ActionPictures / imago-images

List of rubric lists: © ActionPictures / imago-images