Before the Danes shot their way into the EM semifinals against the Czech Republic, a scene in the stands caused a sensation.
The Danish fans had every reason to cheer on Saturday evening. Your national team prevailed against the Czech Republic 2-1 in the EM quarter-finals and is in a semi-final for the first time since 1992. The Ukraine or England are now waiting there.
However, a scene shortly before the start of the game caused a stir in Baku. And it didn't take place on the lawn, but in the stands. Two Denmark fans had brought a rainbow flag into the stadium and proudly held it up to the cameras. A little later, two files could be seen who appeared in the Danes' fan block and tried to take the flag from the two supporters. As a result, there was even a small commotion, and the fans all around visibly protested.
It appears that stewards in the stadium have confiscated a 🌈-flag from two Denmark fans … # EURO2020 #CZEDEN #Baku pic.twitter.com/NyU37IvdTg
– DW Sports (@dw_sports) July 3, 2021
The rainbow and tolerance
In any case, the scenes and pictures also made the rounds on social media. In any case, the incident should be investigated. In response to a request from the German Press Agency, UEFA also announced that stewards were instructed to confiscate rainbow flags.
The explosiveness should not be underestimated, as UEFA had only announced in advance (similar to the one in St. Petersburg on Friday) that it would also refrain from lighting the advertising boards in the rainbow style in Baku. The reason? “Concerns about the legal framework in Russia and Azerbaijan,” it said.
Security guards appeared to confiscate the rainbow flag from the #DEN fans, which did not go down well with nearby supporters. # Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/BDn3UnjhaN
– Standard Sport (@standardsport) July 3, 2021
The rainbow colors as a symbol of tolerance and sexual and gender diversity had already been a huge EM topic last week because UEFA had banned the Munich arena from shining brightly for the German game against Hungary. This was preceded by a motion from the city of Munich, which was also aimed at protesting a law passed in Hungary that restricts young people's rights to information with regard to homosexuality and transsexuality. At the German game, for example, a speedster with a rainbow flag stormed the field.
