Uefa changes logo in rainbow colors – and justifies the ban

On Tuesday, one day before the German national team’s last group game against Hungary, the European Football Association rejected a request from the city of Munich that the Allianz Arena should be illuminated in rainbow colors for the game. Fans, politicians and the media had sharply criticized the ban.

In a message published on several social media channels, Uefa declared that it was part of a cosmopolitan, tolerant society – and dipped the otherwise red logo in rainbow colors.

The association wrote: “It is a symbol that embodies our core values ​​and promotes everything we believe in – a fairer and equal society that is tolerant of everyone, regardless of their background, belief or gender.” With the color change of the logo, Uefa joined numerous companies, media and social media users.

At the same time, the association also commented on the strong criticism of the decision to ban the colorful lighting of the Munich stadium. The decision was interpreted as “political” from many sides – according to Uefa the opposite is the case: “The request itself was political, connected with the presence of the Hungarian soccer team in the stadium for the game against Germany tonight”. For the football union, the rainbow is “not a political symbol, but a sign of commitment to a more diverse and inclusive society,” the statement ends.

The background to the planned protest is a law that restricts the information rights of young people with regard to homosexuality and transsexuality in Hungary and was approved by the Hungarian parliament last week. The law is a special concern of the right-wing conservative Prime Minister.