To express opposition to a Hungarian law deemed homophobic by top leaders from the European Union, the city of Munich planned to illuminate its soccer stadium with rainbow colors during a match between Germany and Hungary.
The Union of European Football Associations intervened, blocking the request. “UEFA, through its statutes, is a politically and religiously neutral organisation,” the governing body said. And with that, Allianz Arena was unable to display its colorful protest.
But the UEFA couldn’t stop stadiums across Germany from showing their Pride (watch above). In cities like Cologne, Frankfurt, and Berlin, stadiums were aglow with rainbow colors during the Germany v. Hungary showdown.
UEFA prohibited Munich from lighting up the Allianz Arena in rainbow colors for Germany’s match vs. Hungary today.
So stadiums across Germany lit up 🌈 pic.twitter.com/n4ULhgVqkr
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 23, 2021
Before the match started, LGBTQ groups distributed pride flags outside the stadium and Munich draped rainbow banners on the facade of its city hall.
More from NPR:
Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter called out the UEFA, saying that despite the decision, Munich would raise rainbow flags at city hall and light up a wind turbine near the stadium and the city’s Olympic Tower with rainbow colors.
“I find it shameful that UEFA forbids us to set an example for diversity, tolerance, respect and solidarity,” Reiter said in a statement, according to Eurosports. “I am also disappointed with the DFB [German Football Association], which, despite the overwhelming approval from all over the country, wasn’t willing to position itself to influence the outcome,” the mayor said.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was scheduled to attend the event, but he backed out amid the furor. A man waving a pride flag stormed the field as the Hungarian national anthem played.
No rainbow lights? No problem!
Local LGBT rights activists are equipping matchgoers with 11,000 rainbow flags outside Munich's Allianz Arena in response to UEFA's refusal to illuminate the stadium in LGBT flag colors for Germany's game against Hungary.
#GERHUN #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/O0beyPwwRq— DW Sports (@dw_sports) June 23, 2021
Orban has been one of Europe’s most repressive leaders, moving to curb academic freedoms, the free press, and women’s rights. He’s vehemently opposed immigration and handed out lucrative government contracts to family and friends.
His record on LGBTQ rights has drawn international condemnation. A new law is working its way through Hungary’s legislative process that would ban the depiction of homosexuality to anyone under the age of 18.
Wednesday game ended in a tie – which allowed Germany to advance to the next round of Euro 2020. Hungary was eliminated.