Uefa, we regret to inform you, appear to be at it again
Uefa have reportedly banned football supporters from wearing or displaying any rainbow flags in Budapest’s Puskas Arena before or during Sunday’s Euro 2020 last-16 clash between the Netherlands and Czech Republic.
As reported by NU.nl, the rule also applies to those in fan zone areas, with several Dutch supporters having their rainbow flags confiscated by security staff prior to the game.
The same report says that, according to the Dutch FA (KNVB), the confiscation of rainbow flags happened at the request of Uefa.
Maron uit Den Haag is homo en voetbalfan. Zijn regenboogvlag mag hij niet dragen hoorde hij bij de ingang van de fanzone in Boedapest. Hij moet de vlag in zijn tas houden, zegt hij. "Dat de organisatie dit doet is vernederend". #Hongarije #ek pic.twitter.com/em88f74tQo
— Agnes de Goede (@agnesdegoede) June 27, 2021
This development comes just days after Uefa were strongly criticised for their decision to ban Munich’s Allianz Arena from lighting up in rainbow colours for Germany’s group game with Hungary.
The German city’s mayor, Dieter Reiter, had planned it as a gesture of solidarity after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government passed a law banning LBGTQ+ content in schools or in TV shows for under-18s.
Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has worn a rainbow captain’s armband throughout the tournament. Uefa were also said to have opened an investigation into him and the German FA as a result. This also drew fierce criticism, with the German FA later announcing that any review had been stopped.
The German FA went on to hand thousands of rainbow flags out to the crowd ahead of the Hungary game. A pitch invader was also cheered as they made their way on to the field with a rainbow flag as the Hungarian anthem played before kick-off.
Speaking ahead of kick-off between the Netherlands and Czech Republic, Daan Schippers, a spokesperson for the KNVB, told NOS:
“The rules of UEFA apply in the fan zone and in the stadium , so they can determine that. But that does not mean that the KNVB supports this decision. We are pro-rainbow flag and have therefore started the OneLove campaign.”
