Rainbow armband: UEFA checked against Neuer

DFB captain Manuel Neuer threatens trouble with the European Football Union. UEFA checks the rainbow armband with Neuuer as captain of the German national team at the EM. This was confirmed by the German Football Association (DFB) on Sunday in response to a SID request after RTL / n-tv.de had reported investigations by UEFA against the 35-year-old goalkeeper. UEFA apparently sees the armband as a political symbol, which is prohibited by its statutes. Neuer could be fined.

“It is true that the armband is being checked. We will also discuss this with UEFA. The regulations state that the armband officially provided by UEFA must be worn. In sport, too, June is marked by “Pride” in order to campaign for more diversity. Also this year the DFB participates with various campaigns. Manuel Neuer has been wearing the rainbow armband since the friendly against Latvia on June 7th. As a symbol and clear commitment by the entire team for diversity, openness, tolerance and against hatred and exclusion. The message is: we are colorful! ”Said press spokesman Jens Grittner from the national team’s quarters.

The rainbow stands for solidarity with the LGBT community, and June is “Pride Month” for them. Neuer had worn the armband for the first time at the EM general robe on June 7 in Düsseldorf against Latvia (7: 1). He then did the same in the two European Championship games against world champions France (0: 1) and defending champions Portugal (4: 2) in Munich.

In any case, the rainbow will become a political issue in the coming days. The city of Munich wants to decide on Monday to have the arena illuminated in rainbow colors in the third German group game against Hungary on Wednesday (9 p.m. / in the FAZ live ticker for the European Football Championship, ZDF and MagentaTV) – as a “visible sign of solidarity with the LGBT -Community in Hungary “.