Saturday 3rd July 2021
Was Dane drunk?
Fans have to hand in a rainbow flag
There is always excitement about the rainbow flag at the EM. It is no longer just a sign of tolerance and diversity. It is symbolic of the fight against UEFA. Now, in the game between Denmark and the Czech Republic in Baku, a flag is apparently taken from the block. UEFA is investigating the matter.
The rainbow colors also caused a sensation in the EM quarter-finals in Baku – although they weren’t even visible over a large area. Before the game between Denmark and the Czech Republic kicked off, photos could be seen of two stewards having heated discussions with Danish fans. These had brought a little rainbow color with them to the Olympic Stadium. The flag disappeared shortly afterwards. The European Football Union (UEFA) announced that it had not instructed the stewards in Baku or in other European Championship stadiums to confiscate rainbow flags.
The incident was being investigated, wrote the umbrella organization, the flag had been returned to the fan. UEFA said it had initially received information that the Danish supporter was “very drunk” and had trouble with local fans. “Of course we will be in touch with the UEFA delegate, the UEFA security officer and the local authorities to sort this out,” it said.
It all began in Munich
As announced, UEFA partner Volkswagen decided not to use colorful lighting for its own advertising boards in the game, which were last seen in the round of 16 and in the quarter-finals on Friday evening in Munich. VW 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 St. Petersburg. The car manufacturer stated that it regretted the development. At the request of the German Press Agency on Friday evening, UEFA referred to the local laws with which the sponsorship campaigns must be compliant. The umbrella organization also announced that Volkswagen would stick to the campaign in the quarter-finals alone. “All other sponsors have decided to stop using rainbow colors in the tournament” because the “Pride month” of June was over.
The rainbow colors as a symbol of tolerance and sexual and gender diversity had already been a huge EM topic last week because UEFA had banned the Munich arena from shining 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.
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