Allianz Arena: This is how celebrities and politicians react to the UEFA ban

Allianz Arena
This is how celebrities and politicians react to the UEFA ban

The Allianz Arena in Munich must not look like this on Wednesday evening, UEFA has decided.

© anahtiris / Shutterstock.com

The European football association UEFA has forbidden the city of Munich to light up the Allianz Arena in rainbow colors during the European Championship game Hungary vs. Jan Böhmermann, Markus Söder and Co. discuss the decision on Twitter.

No rainbow arena at the European Championship match between Germany and Hungary on Wednesday evening: “In view of the political context,” the European football association UEFA has rejected the Munich City Council’s proposal to let the Allianz Arena shine in the colors of the rainbow as a symbol of tolerance and diversity. Many find that the host of EURO 2020 is bowing to Hungary’s political views.

Drag Queen Olivia Jones (51) explained on Instagram: “If you set a Europe-wide sign of solidarity, for tolerance and against exclusion, that is not a policy but actually a matter of course in the 21st century.” She also demanded that Conchita Wurst (32) “or another self-confessed homosexual will sing the German national anthem in the stadium tomorrow”. Also author and presenter Micky Beisenherz (43) tweeted on the subject: “Refusing to adhere to basic democratic values, I find that very political.”

Stefan Leifert, the head of the ZDF regional studio in Bavaria, also noted: “UEFA and DFB are not getting out of the matter: If an application for rainbow lighting is political – it is even more a ban.” The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (54, CSU) writes on Twitter: “It’s a shame that the Munich arena is not allowed to shine in rainbow colors. That would have been a very good sign of tolerance and freedom.”

SPD politician Karl Lauterbach (58) tweeted: “UEFA does not want a symbol of open-mindedness and tolerance. That is one more disappointment. Obviously, it is mainly about the money.” And author Margarete Stokowski (35) hopes: “It would be cool if on the day of the match the weather was such that there was a fat rainbow all the time”.

Civil Disobedience Considerations

There are also considerations on civil disobedience elsewhere: Moderator Ruth Moschner (45) askshow expensive it would be to oppose the lighting ban “and couldn’t we all merge?” Moderator Jan Böhmermann (40) is also considering: “What if the DFB still turns on the rainbow?” And actor Marcus Mittermeier (51) suggests to the DFB team, “To hand the Hungarian captain a rain pennant tomorrow.”

Other German stadiums have also already agreed to light up in rainbow colors during the game. The football arenas in Frankfurt am Main, Cologne, Berlin, Mainz, Wolfsburg and Augsburg want to shine brightly. “If Munich is not allowed to be on Wednesday, then the other stadiums in the country have to show their colors. Up now, colleagues in the league!” tweeted Eintracht Frankfurt’s board spokesman Axel Hellmann (49).FC St. Pauli also made it clear: “In its role as a link between people, football must live up to its social responsibility. This also includes standing up for a world in which everyone can love whoever they want.”

The mood also reflects Dieter Reiter (63, SPD), the mayor of Munich, in his answer to the press. He finds it “shameful that UEFA forbids us here in Munich to give a sign of cosmopolitanism, tolerance, respect and solidarity to the many people in the LGBTIQ community.” He is also disappointed with the German Football Association. And makes it clear: “In Munich we will definitely not let ourselves be deterred from sending a clear signal to Hungary and the world.” The town hall should show its colors on Wednesday, the wind turbine in the immediate vicinity of the arena and the Olympic tower.

The background to the action planned by the Munich City Council was a new law that Hungary recently passed, which forbids the portrayal of homosexuality and transsexuality in advertising as normal and forbids books and films on the subject for young people.

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