Sunday June 20th 2021
Because of the rainbow captain’s armband
UEFA starts investigations against DFB
By Nico Holter & Stephan Uersfeld
It is an important sign to the LGBT community. In “Pride Month”, the captain of the national soccer team, Manuel Neuer, wears a rainbow captain’s armband. But UEFA is bothered by it and has now started investigations.
According to RTL / ntv.de information, the European Football Association (UEFA) has started investigations against the German Football Association (DFB). The reason for this is the rainbow captain’s armband of the national team captain Manuel Neuer. UEFA should regard this as a political sign during a match. The association’s statutes prohibit this. The DFB could now face a fine.
“That is unacceptable,” said LSVD federal board member Christian Rudolph to ntv.de: “It is a fatal sign. We are currently in” Pride Month “and at the most important sporting event of the month should the wearing of a rainbow captain’s armband be prevented? UEFA also has to think about who it represents. How should the athletes think about it now? We are striving for open football. And this month we also want to send a signal to all the athletes from the LGBTI community, “said Rudolph. “It was important to us that Neuer can wear the rainbow captain’s armband for the entire month. These are now the values that the DFB represents.”
The German captain wore a rainbow captain’s armband in the first two European Championship games against France (0: 1) and Portgual (4: 2) and also in the preparatory game against Latvia (7: 1). The rainbow flag is a symbol of the LGBT community. June is “Pride Month” for them. Around the globe they celebrate their identity and demonstrate for their rights. National goalkeeper Manuel Neuer expressed his support with the rainbow captain’s armband.
The game against Hungary will be political
The rainbow colors will play a political role in the run-up to the Germany-Hungary game (Wednesday, 9:00 p.m.) for another reason in the coming days.
On Monday, Munich’s Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter would like to submit a cross-party proposal from the Munich City Council to UEFA. The home stadium of the German national team is to be illuminated in rainbow colors during the preliminary round of this European Championship. This should be a “visible sign of solidarity with the LGBTI community in Hungary”. According to one report According to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the Munich City Hall could also be flagged with rainbow flags on the match day. “The state capital is committed to diversity, tolerance and real equality in sport and in society as a whole,” said the application
Last Tuesday, the Hungarian parliament approved a law that restricts young people’s right to information about homosexuality and transsexuality. The law is a particular concern of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Since the proposed law became known, calls for a clear signal at the European Football Championship in Germany had been loud.
UEFA wanted to fight against discrimination
In the run-up to the European Championship, UEFA launched a new campaign against discrimination in football. “It is motivating to see that a young generation of top footballers use their influence to stand up, take action against discrimination and raise awareness and motivate others. We stand firmly behind this cause and use the global reach of EURO 2020 to influence it To maximize the campaign, “said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin on the association’s official website. ”
Not just players, but all of us should be role models in the fight against discrimination. Regardless of whether one is famous or not, we all have a responsibility to act and to have a positive impact on our environment. “The” Sign for an Equal Game “campaign should be against” racism, homophobia, sexism and all forms of discrimination judge. These are an “eyesore for our society”, it said at the time at UEFA.
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