everything you should learn from the NBA and the NFL

Manuel Neuer and the mayor of Munich have been two of the great protagonists of this Eurocup after they both decided to make two gestures against homophobia with the bracelet and stadium lighting. After the UEFA I would like to send a message to the world with the campaign against racism before the meetings, and to be proud two years before that this edition would be “for everyone”, opposition from around the world has been met after taking the decision to ban the Munich Arena light up with the colors of the rainbow.

First, UEFA opened an investigation against the German goalkeeper for wearing this symbol, a case that was finally closed without penalty but served as a warning. The news generated harsh reactions in Germany. “Dear UEFA, are you serious?” The former international wrote on his social networks Thomas Hitzslperger, who at the end of his career made his homosexuality public. The bracelet, according to the argument to file the lawsuit, responds to a “good cause”. Neuer decided that she would wear it throughout the month of June, the month that worldwide is that of LGTB pride.

On the other hand, the same body has determined that the color of the Munich Arena should not be changed again in favor of the community LGTB from Hungary, as is usually done during the celebrations in honor of the movement that are held in the German city in the week of ‘Christopher Street Day‘. The Magyar Government is implementing a law that restricts the right to information of young people with respect to homosexuality and transsexuality. That is why the German city council approved this initiative that UEFA has brought down. Neuer will continue to wear the bracelet.

This has opened a debate among the institutions of the world of sport about how to act before social movements. The teams of the Bundesliga they have reacted lighting up their stadiums with the colors of the rainbow. Barça has published an image with its shield on a background with the LGTB symbol. Until the Norwegian Football Federation has asked UEFA to “turn on Munich” through its official account. But if there are two organizations that are a reference when it comes to caring for these social movements, they are the NBA and the NFL.

The racism

It was also a matter of debate that players kneel before games as a gesture within the ‘Black Lives Matter‘. While in Russia whistles were heard in the stadium St. Petersburg because the Belgians were kneeling, in England the opposite happened before Croatia, the occasional boo was heard because the Balkans did not kneel. The players of the Spanish team either they have knelt.

It was optional for each player although most teams have ultimately determined that they will not. Meanwhile, there was a situation of racism to which UEFA reacted with a penalty for a match. Marko Arnautovic, of a Serbian father, addressed in this language to Ezgjan Akioski convinced that he would understand. The Austrian allegedly said “I’m fucking your Albanian mother” to the Macedonian.

Here everything is justified around not wanting to position oneself on a political issue, as if the Ukraine t-shirt conflict it would not have been. Like racism, homophobia is not a political problem. It transcends borders as a conflict that is fought globally. The simple fact that a region acts against the rights of the people has indeed motivated other confederations to make decisions about this symbol, no matter how much UEFA hides itself in that article of its statutes.

La NFL

Although this competition has been a benchmark in the fight against racism, it has also become a place where homophobia does not take place either. This last season was created the month of history LGTB in October with an initiative such as’Coming Out Day‘(National Day to come out of the closet). In the 100-year history of the NFL, up to 15 players have openly said they are gay, although none did so while playing.

That is why this very Tuesday, Carl Nassib He has made history by being the first player in American football history to acknowledge his homosexuality in action, having a completely positive reaction from everyone in the NFL and the organization. The same commissioner, Roger Goodell, made a public note where he was proud of this announcement: “The NFL family is proud of Carl for the courageous confession he made today.”

The NBA

The inclusion campaigns being carried out by the NBA also sensitize fans about homophobia. It all started when Allen Iverson published his rap album in which he made homophobic comments. Star of david, commissioned at the time, charged at him threatening expulsion from the league. Adam Silver took a step forward when he decided to have the basketball league participate in the New York Pride March, where he appeared with some personalities of this competition who have come out of the closet as the former player Jason Collins, the former CEO of the Golden State Warriors Rick Welts or the referee Bill Kennedy.

There are several players who took this step within the best basketball league in the world, but the biggest difference with UEFA is that they do leave the players to get mixed up in political matters. The 2016 episode with the All Star of 2017 that traveled from Charlotte a New Orleans by the homophobic law that had been approved in the state of North Carolina is an example of it.

[Más información: La UEFA rechaza iluminar el estadio de Múnich con los colores del arcoíris para el Alemania – Hungría]