Dozens of football stadiums across Germany can be found adorned in the rainbow colours of the LGBT+ pride flag; a show of solidarity in response to UEFA’s controversial decision to block a similar demonstration in Munich during Germany’s EURO 2020 match with Hungary.
The planned protest, an objection to Viktor Orban’s increasingly discriminatory policies, was stopped after it was deemed political in nature. In a statement released on their website, UEFA said that:
“the request itself was political, linked to the Hungarian football team’s presence in the stadium for this evening’s match with Germany. For UEFA, the rainbow is not a political symbol, but a sign of our firm commitment to a more diverse and inclusive society.”
With the plans gaining overwhelming support from all over Germany, local activist groups and politicians expressed their disappointment with UEFA. Dieter Reiter, the Mayor of Munich, said that:
“it is shameful that UEFA forbids us from setting an example for diversity, tolerance, respect and solidarity.”
He also denounced the insufficient efforts of the German football federation, DFB, stating that it had “not been willing to position itself to influence the result.”
In recent weeks, the Hungarian government has come under intense pressure for its ratification of anti-LGBT+ legislation which critics have called an “affront to human rights”. The bill outlaws the dissemination in schools of content judged to “promote homosexuality and gender change”, with gay people now barred from featuring in educational material or TV shows for under-18s.
The law will almost certainly lead to Hungary’s already persecuted LGBT+ community becoming more ostracised. Nick Herbert, Britain’s first Special Envoy on LGBT+ Rights, called the law “completely unacceptable”, adding that:
“it’s very concerning that European countries should be going backwards like this.”
The law has also been condemned by Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, who said that it “clearly discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation.” Speaking in Brussels earlier this week, she announced that legal steps will be taken, highlighting the fact that the bill contravenes:
“the fundamental values of the European Union: human dignity, equality and respect for human rights.”
Many have speculated that the steady radicalisation of Viktor Orban’s government is a result of the impending 2022 elections, with his adoption of increasingly radical social policy seen as a means of securing populist support.
The demonstration of solidarity with vulnerable groups is not, in itself, a political statement; UEFA must ensure that it prioritises the rights of such groups over its desperation to maintain a visage of impartiality. The imposition of anti-LGBT+ legislation must not be ignored.
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