opinion
Pictures by a photographer show that a rainbow flag was stolen from a Danish fan in Baku. It’s the bottom of the tournament, our author comments. And calls on the national associations to finally defend themselves against Uefa.
It is the low point of this European championship – and a shame for European football: the pictures clearly show how folders prevent a Danish fan from showing his rainbow flag. The man held the brightly colored flag, a symbol of tolerance and sexual and gender diversity, in front of him before two men pushed for it to be removed.
The day before, Uefa had articulated legal concerns about advertising in rainbow colors and explained why several sponsors, including Volkswagen, forego corresponding perimeter advertising: “Uefa requires its sponsors to ensure that the advertising design complies with local laws. We know that this is not the case in Baku and Saint Petersburg “, the association told the” Sportschau “.
However: This ban explicitly did not apply to flags of fans. Uefa itself had emphasized that rainbow flags were not prohibited in the stadiums – and this also explicitly related to the games in Azerbaijan. Uefa had probably hoped that those responsible in Azerbaijan would see it that way too. After all, sexual acts between people of the same sex have not been banned since 2000. However: There is no protection against discrimination. The Foreign Office writes in its travel advice on Azerbaijan: “Homosexuality is hardly accepted in society.”
Now, however, the global public has seen that the announcement that the audience would be able to freely express their opinions was smoke and mirrors. It’s a shame for world football.
At least since the Uefa forbade the city of Munich to illuminate the Allianz Arena in rainbow colors for the game against Hungary, there has been (again) a discussion about the association’s approach and hypocrisy. “Uefa, which has been staging itself for years in extensive image campaigns as a tolerant, open and anti-racist organization, exposes itself. Everything is just marketing, it is not really serious about the values on display,” commented colleague Christian Ewers around two weeks ago for the stern.
Uefa cannot deny what happened in Baku
And the Baku incident is a further step up. In the case of Munich, it was still possible to hide behind the (also outrageous) argument that the application was seen as a sign against the politics of Hungary and that the football association wanted to be apolitical, the association can no longer deny that it is playing a European championship Land in which spectators are prevented from freely expressing their opinions in the stadium.
Unfortunately, one must assume that Uefa will once again be irrelevant. If the officials had any decency, tomorrow they would express their regrets. And they proclaim that they will never again award games of a European Championship or finals of the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League in countries in which governments suppress free expression and in which the equal life of all nationalities, sexualities and genders is not possible.
But that is exactly what will not happen. Which is why every single national association, above all the German Football Association, should seriously think about the consequences for their part. Especially since a world championship will take place in Qatar in just over a year.
The Norwegian national team made a small advance in March, protesting against the human rights situation in Qatar before a World Cup qualifying match. Only in order to communicate a few weeks later that they do not want to boycott the tournament.
It is time to finally set the right signal
Imagine if the associations for their part followed up their words with real deeds. Imagine Germany, England and France not going to Qatar for the World Cup. Or imagine if the Danish national team had found out about the incident in Baku today and left the pitch in protest.
Yes, that may sound utopian. The show has to go on, the money has to flow – and of course the footballers also depend on these tournaments from a sporting point of view. And yet the big bang, the big protest of those who are ultimately responsible for the product football – the players – is probably the only chance to finally, finally, finally bring about change. Because one thing is clear: If the biggest stars and most important teams refused to compete in a European Championship in a country like Azerbaijan, the associations would react. Not because then suddenly human rights would be important to them. But because they could no longer sell their product successfully.
The time has come to finally force Uefa and Fifa to reason.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
