German soccer clubs are banding together to display rainbow colors during the country’s match against Hungary at the European Championship after UEFA rejected host city Munich’s …
German soccer clubs are banding together to display rainbow colors during the country’s match against Hungary at the European Championship after UEFA rejected host city Munich’s plan to do the same. Bundesliga clubs in Bremen, Frankfurt, Cologne, Wolfsburg, Augsburg and the two in Berlin will light up their venues during Wednesday’s final group game in Munich in response to UEFA’s decision to deny the city council’s application to have its stadium illuminated in rainbow colors. UEFA, the governing body of European soccer which has the final say as tournament organizer, said in a statement Tuesday that it understood the intention behind the council’s proposal but „must decline this request“ because of its political context — „a message aiming at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament.“ Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter’s application on behalf of the council made clear it wanted to protest a law passed by Hungarian lawmakers last week that prohibits sharing with minors any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment. The law was denounced as anti-LGBT discrimination by human rights groups. Reiter described UEFA’s decision as „shameful“ and said it was „very disappointing“ that the German soccer federation failed to give the city’s proposal more support. Federation spokesman Jens Grittner suggested Monday that it might be an option to display the colors in the days after Hungary’s visit. Munich will host a quarterfinal match at Euro 2020 on July 2. „A laughable counter-proposal,“ Reiter said. „I don’t know what the point of this proposal is supposed to be.“ Reiter said he expects to raise rainbow flags over city hall and have a wind turbine near the stadium and the city’s Olympic Tower illuminated in rainbow colors, too.
