The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, has reportedly cancelled his trip to Munich following UEFA’s decision to ban the Munich stadium from displaying rainbow lights. Orban called on German politicians to accept UEFA’s decision.
Following UEFA’s decision to ban the Allianz Arena in Munich from lighting the stadium in rainbow colours, Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, has called for German politicians to accept UEFA’s decision. "Whether the Munich soccer stadium or another European stadium shines in rainbow colours is not a state decision," he said. "The rainbow colours are naturally part of the street scene," Orban added, referring to Hungary’s capital city of Budapest.
It has been reported in the German press that Orban has cancelled his trip to Munich, where he was due to watch Hungary’s national football team take on Die Mannschaft in the final game of the group stages at the Euros. However, no official information has been given.
The debate over lighting up the stadium was fired up after Orban and his party recently passed a law that restricts the access to information on homosexuality for young people in Hungary. Orban has said that he sees the law as protecting parents’ responsibility of educating their children.
UEFA decided to not allow Munich’s request to display rainbow colours. "Given the political context of this particular request - a message aimed at a decision by the Hungarian Parliament - UEFA has to reject this request."
German politicians have voiced their displeasure over UEFA’s ruling, with Munich’s mayor describing the decision as “shameful." Markus Söder (CSU), state-premier of Bavaria, and Annalena Baerbock (Greens) have also spoken out against the decision.
A number of other stadiums around Germany have announced they will fly rainbow colours during the game. The Bavarian Lesbian and Gay Association announced it would protest in front of Munich’s arena, and Amnesty International announced that it would distribute rainbow flags to fans around the stadium.