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Folders stand next to the Danish fans in Baku
Photo: Darko Vojinovic / dpa
The rainbow colors also caused a stir in the EM quarter-finals in Baku in Azerbaijan. As can be seen in photos from the stadium, stewards discussed with Danish fans before the game between Denmark and the Czech Republic kicked off. The audience had brought a small rainbow flag to the Olympic Stadium in Baku, and the photos show, among other things, how a folder reaches for the flag. Shortly afterwards the flag was gone. At first it remained unclear whether the flag was confiscated or stowed away by the fans.
The rainbow colors as a symbol of equality and sexual and gender diversity were already a big topic last week because Uefa had forbidden the Munich arena to shine 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.
According to Uefa, rainbow flags are not prohibited
A few days later, at the round of 16 between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic in the Hungarian capital Budapest, stewards are said to have advised viewers to keep rainbow flags they had brought with them in lockers.
The Dutch media reported.
The Dutch association then blamed Uefa, which referred to the local authorities.
Uefa then emphasized that rainbow flags were not forbidden in the stadiums.
Uefa forbade its sponsors to illuminate the advertising boards in rainbow colors on Saturday, as in other games.
Uefa partner Volkswagen had announced the day before that Uefa had “concerns” “with regard to the legal framework at the venues in Russia and Azerbaijan”.
VW also did without the first quarter-finals on Friday in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The car manufacturer stated that it regretted the development.
When asked on Friday evening, Uefa referred to the local laws with which the sponsorship campaigns had to be compliant.
The umbrella organization also announced that Volkswagen would stick to the campaign in the quarter-finals alone.
"All other sponsors have decided not to use rainbow colors in the tournament" because the "Pride month" of June was over.
hba / dpa
