Fuss over stadium lighting: UEFA makes verdict

UEFA rejected a corresponding request from Reiter. It is “a politically and religiously neutral organization due to its statutes. During the European Championship game between the German national soccer team and Hungary this Wednesday (21.00 p.m.), the soccer arenas in Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Wolfsburg and Augsburg will shine colorfully . Other Bundesliga clubs such as FSV Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Bochum declared their solidarity, but cannot take part in the campaign for technical reasons.

“We are happy to take part because we are committed to tolerance and human rights,” said Christoph Meyer, spokesman for Berliner Olympiastadion GmbH, to the “Berliner Zeitung” on Tuesday. According to information from the newspaper, the Senate should consider whether the Brandenburg Gate could also shine in the rainbow colors. It's not just stadiums that should shine in the rainbow Eintracht Frankfurt's board spokesman Axel Hellmann called for the action. “If Munich is not allowed to play on Wednesday, then the other stadiums in the country will have to show their colors. Now, colleagues in the league,” he tweeted on Tuesday night and announced: “Deutsche Bank Park is turning on the rainbow for the game against Hungary. The Waldstadion remains colorful.”

In Dortmund, the BVB stadium is not supposed to be bathed in rainbow colors, but the German Football Museum, among other things, is. Munich is now planning something similar: On match day, the town hall will be decorated with rainbow flags and the wind turbine in the immediate vicinity of the arena will be illuminated in rainbow colors, announced Mayor Dieter Reiter. Decision causes outrage Reiter was also critical of the DFB's positioning: "I am also very disappointed that the DFB, despite the incredibly clear positioning here in Munich, in Bavaria and also in the Federal Republic, has not achieved or wanted to achieve anything." The alternative proposal, Illuminating the arena on another day would counteract any message.

The Bavarian Lesbian and Gay Association (LSVD) announced protests in front of the arena. The association also called on the operators of the Munich football arena and the owner FC Bayern to illuminate the stadium of UEFA's rejection in the rainbow colors. “A signal has to be sent here,” said Markus Apel, board member of the LSVD Bayern, to the German Press Agency. “UEFA shows very clearly which side it is on,” said Apel – not on the side of those who are committed to a diverse and fair society, he said.

DFB captain Manuel Neuer has already set an example in the previous games against France and Portugal by incorporating the rainbow colors into his captain's armband. However, this led to a brief investigation by UEFA due to political motivation. However, the proceedings were stopped again. After the fuss over the stadium lighting, the multiple world goalkeeper doesn't want to do without his armband and the message that comes with it. Hungary is pleased with the decision In Hungary, the decision was unsurprisingly welcomed by UEFA. The European Football Union has “made the right decision,” Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told Hungarian journalists on the sidelines of an EU ministerial meeting in Luxembourg. “It was decided not to be used for political provocation against Hungary,” he added.

The background to the protest is a law that restricts the information rights of young people with regard to homosexuality and transsexuality and which was only approved by the Hungarian parliament last Tuesday.

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Fuss over stadium lighting: UEFA makes verdict

The European Football Union confirmed on Tuesday what had already been speculated: the European Championship stadium in Munich is not allowed to shine in the colors as a symbol of tolerance and equality. Now other stadium operators want to set an example for tolerance.

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