Analysis
IN 2021
Allianz Arena in rainbow colors? Why the Uefa will hardly allow that
Photo montage: Munich’s Allianz Arena in rainbow colors (in January 2021) with the Euro 2020 logo. Will Uefa allow this as a sign against Hungary’s homophobic legislation?
© Picture Alliance
It seems so simple and so positive: for the game against Hungary, the Munich arena shines in rainbow colors as a symbol against the exclusionary legislation of the Hungarian government. It seems more than questionable that Uefa will agree to this.
It is supposed to be a Europe-wide visible sign against exclusion and for tolerance: The Munich European Championship stadium is bathed in rainbow colors, while Germany meets Hungary on the pitch in the last preliminary round match on Wednesday. The city of Munich wants it that way, activists and many fans on the net cheer the proposal. They want to protest against what they consider to be the homophobic and trans-hostile attitude of the right-wing national leadership in Hungary. But the decision rests with the EM organizer, the European Football Union (Uefa) – and they usually don’t want to let their unofficial motto be spoiled by political statements: “The game must go on”, that is. And one could add : Cost what it may.
Accordingly, three days before the game it is still completely open whether the bright colors, which are considered a symbol of tolerance and sexual and gender diversity around the world, will really shine from around the stadium. Uefa has the last word and has not yet officially commented on the initiative.
It is unclear whether Viktor Orbán will come to Munich for the game
But the football officials will soon have to do that, because on Monday the Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter (SPD) wants to call on UEFA with a letter to protest the rainbow. “The OB will write a letter to Uefa tomorrow,” said his spokeswoman for the German press agency on Sunday. “This is an important symbol for tolerance and equality,” emphasized Reiter. “The state capital is committed to diversity, tolerance and real equality in sport and in society as a whole,” says a cross-factional motion from the city council, which is not to be formally decided until Wednesday, the day of the match.
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. The law is a particular concern of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The demand for a clear signal at the European Football Championship in Germany had become correspondingly loud.
Uefa could need Budapest as an alternative location
At Uefa, however, you will hardly run into open doors with it. This was already shown by the investigations that the association made on Sunday because of Manuel Neuer’s rainbow captain’s armband – even if it was ultimately discontinued because the colorful armband was not considered a political statement. Uefa as well as the world football association Fifa exclude such statements in the statutes. It is important to keep gaming operations going under all circumstances. Russia and Ukraine are in conflict over Crimea? Everything is done that the lot does not lead them against each other. And you let Ukraine remove a clearly political slogan from the European Championship jersey. Israel’s clubs and national team play in Europe not least to be able to play football despite the conflicts in the Middle East. Corona could endanger the semi-finals and finals of the EM in London? Uefa is particularly concerned about quarantine exemptions for officials.
Which brings us back to Hungary and Viktor Orbán. Budapest is considered an alternative location in the Uefa emergency plan, should London fail at short notice due to the spreading Corona variant Delta. Even during the Champions League season, Uefa was happy to use the Hungarian capital as a venue to keep the game going. German clubs have also competed there – regardless of the temporarily high incidence values in Hungary’s capital and current Corona measures in Germany. Even now, EM games are only held in front of full stands in the Puskas Stadium, and the atmosphere inspires even those who are concerned about ignoring the dangers of Corona.
Orbán basks in EM prestige
The fact that four games of this European Championship are running in Budapest is considered a success for Viktor Orbán. It is said that football is very important to the Hungarian head of government. In this respect, the head of the ruling Fidesz party is no different from other more or less autocratic rulers who always seek to use major sporting events to boost their image. And the football associations have always shown little reservations in this regard. Examples: World Cup 1978 in Argentina, World Cup 2018 in Russia, World Cup 2022 in Qatar. “The game must go on.”
With the permission to let the Munich EM arena shine in rainbow colors for the appearance of the Hungarian team, the Uefa would stand clearly and globally visibly against Viktor Orbán and his politics. It is difficult to imagine that the association would do this at a time when they could be dependent on Orbán if they had to switch to Budapest if London were to fail. Hungary’s head of government, the EU knows a thing or two about that, has lately in any case not been noticed with sympathy for the opinions of others. Means: You could suddenly find yourself without a final location for the EM.
Surprise us, Uefa!
In the Munich case, it is therefore to be expected that Uefa will respond verbatim to Mayor Reiter’s letter – for example in the sense that football stands for tolerance and connects peoples, but that the game of the world remains a sport and is not used for political purposes may be. That this, as with the Olympic Games, has long since happened and is happening, also through the attitude of the Uefa and other large sports associations, is deliberately overlooked.
But who knows: football is always good for a surprise, and it is well known that hope dies last. Perhaps the European Football Association will stand up for its commendable “Respect” campaign even when things get difficult. With this in mind: surprise us, Uefa!
