Tuesday June 22, 2021
Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin shine
UEFA sparked rage
No rainbow at the EM arena in Munich. This decision by UEFA is causing fierce headwinds. Other stadiums want to shine on their behalf, politicians find clear words of criticism – and even the Germans’ game against Hungary on Wednesday should be colorful.
Gary Lineker’s message to the electrical engineers at the Munich EM arena was clear: “Do it anyway – they can do it,” tweeted the English icon in response to the decision of the European Football Union (UEFA) on the rainbow question. And Lineker wasn’t the only one to vent his displeasure. UEFA met with a wave of protests, and the association is once again facing massive criticism.
UEFA had previously announced that the stadium would face Hungary during the last preliminary round match of the German national team on Wednesday (9 p.m. / ZDF, MagentaTV and ntv.de live ticker) must not shine in rainbow colors. This is exactly what Munich’s Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter had previously requested on behalf of the city council in order to “set an example in terms of cosmopolitanism and tolerance”.
The people of Munich were supported in their demand by Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), German national players and the Lesbian and Gay Association in Germany (LSVD) – without success. In almost 300 words, UEFA described in detail its fight against “racism, homophobia, sexism and all forms of discrimination” – only to then reject the request.
UEFA was “a politically and religiously neutral” organization based on its statutes, the association said: “Given the political context of this particular request – a message aimed at a decision by the Hungarian Parliament – UEFA must reject this request”. Instead, UEFA suggested different rainbow lighting dates. Either on June 28th – Christopher Street Liberation Day – or between July 3rd and 9th, the Christopher Street Day week in Munich, to be illuminated with the rainbow colors. “The last European Championship game in Munich will take place on July 2nd .
Other stages show their colors
But now all of Germany will be colorful on Wednesday. In response to the UEFA ban, those responsible from the Bundesliga want their stadiums to light up in rainbow colors. “If Munich is not allowed to be on Wednesday, then the other stadiums in the country have to show their colors. To now, colleagues in the league,” tweeted Eintracht Frankfurt’s board spokesman Axel Hellmann even before the final decision by UEFA. The club boss announced: “Deutsche Bank Park will switch on the rainbow for the game against Hungary. The Waldstadion will remain colorful.” Something similar is planned for the Cologne Bundesliga stadium. “We welcome that very much. Cologne and FC stand for diversity and tolerance,” said managing director Alexander Wehrle: “The developments in Hungary are terrifying – it is all the more important to take a stand against this.”
The Berlin Olympic Stadium will also shine in rainbow colors. “We are happy to take part because we are committed to tolerance and human rights,” said Christoph Meyer, spokesman for Olympiastadion GmbH, the “Berliner Zeitung”. “The decision was easy for us,” said Meyer. “When it comes to tolerance and human rights, we’ll be there – tomorrow, from 9 p.m.”, read a little later on the Twitter channel of the Olympic Stadium.
11,000 flags for stadium guests
Even in the Munich arena, despite the UEFA decision, things should be colorful. The umbrella organization of the German Christopher Street Days (CSD), together with partners such as Amnesty International, will provide fans with 11,000 flags. “Let’s show the LGBTIQ * in Hungary that they are not alone,” it said in a statement: “But let’s show everyone around the world that human rights apply to everyone.” Politicians from almost all parties expressed their displeasure with UEFA.
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder, for example: “It’s a shame that the Munich arena is not allowed to shine in rainbow colors. That would have been a very good sign for tolerance and freedom,” wrote the CSU politician on Twitter. “We have to stand up against exclusion and discrimination”.
Alexander Dobrindt also distanced himself. He could well have imagined the decision differently – also “because I am outraged about what kind of discussion is being kicked off by parts of the AfD in Germany,” said party colleague Söders. Another decision would have been “also a signal against completely shameful and indecent statements from AfD representatives regarding the rainbow colors,” said Dobrindt with a view to criticism from the ranks of right-wing populists of the rainbow captain’s armband of national soccer goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Against such tendencies must be clearly shown the flag, said Dobrindt with a view to the AfD.
The Greens also called for the rainbow flag to be displayed. “For tolerance. Against homophobia. Not only when it comes to football. Let’s set a strong example of diversity and carry the rainbow through the country,” said Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock. The parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, declared: “Human rights apply to all people, everywhere. Even in the stadium. We can still show the flag tomorrow. In the stadium or on the balcony.” The Left wrote on their Twitter account: “Anyone who speaks of neutrality when it comes to human rights has not understood anything.” The First Parliamentary Managing Director of the FDP in the Bundestag, Marco Buschmann, also regretted the decision. “The #Regenbogenfarben stand for self-determination, tolerance, cosmopolitanism, freedom,” he wrote.
“It is strange how UEFA deals with values”
With this, the city council is obviously achieving a lot more than originally thought. The protest directed against the policy of the right-wing national government of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orban and its law against “advertising” for homosexuality is reaching unimaginable proportions.
How much this is likely to displease the Hungarian government became clear again. “Thank God, common sense still prevails in the circles of European football leaders and the political provocation was not played along,” said Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
Now it looks like UEFA and Hungary have isolated. This is also shown by the reaction from France. French State Secretary for European Affairs, Clement Beaune, regretted the UEFA ban. “I think it would have been a very strong symbol,” he said. “We are beyond a political message, it is a message of deep values.”
The LSVD sees it similarly. “We as an association find it very strange how UEFA deals with values that should be generally accepted in society,” LSVD spokesman Markus Ulrich told SID: “UEFA has not recognized the signs of the times – and it is clear to recognize which side she is taking with her decision. “
For Lineker, Munich disobedience would be the right answer: “Do it, Munich. Do it. Make a light that the whole world can see.” That also demands one Online petition, which by Tuesday lunchtime more than 153,000 people had signed.
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