Euro 2020: UEFA refuses to light Munich stadium in rainbow colours
Updated On: 23 June, 2021 07:28 AM IST | Munich | AFP
Germany head coach Joachim Loew "would have been happy" if the stadium was lit in rainbow colours and said support of diversity in our society must be "lived".
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Munich’s mayor Dieter Reiter
UEFA`s decision to block plans by Munich to light the Allianz Arena in rainbow colours for the Germany-Hungary Euro 2020 match was met on Tuesday with defiance in the Bavarian city, which vowed to decorate other landmarks in protest at a law passed by the Hungarian government. "UEFA is a politically and religiously neutral organisation," European football`s governing body said in a statement ahead of Wednesday`s match. "Given the political context of this request -- a message aimed at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament -- UEFA must refuse." Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter slammed UEFA`s decision and announced plans to decorate other city landmarks in rainbow colours in defiance.
"I find it shameful that UEFA forbids us to send a sign for cosmopolitanism, tolerance, respect and solidarity with the people of the LGBT community," he said. He plans to put up rainbow-coloured flags at the Munich town hall and illuminate a huge wind turbine close to the stadium, as well as the city`s 291-metre (955-foot) Olympic Tower. Reiter had wanted the Allianz Arena -- owned by Bayern Munich, but rented to UEFA for Euro 2020 -- in rainbow colours for the crucial Group F match to "send a visible sign of solidarity" with Hungary`s LGBT community.
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