PICTURED: APA / AFP / POOL / OZAN KOSE
This time it wasn't a stadium, but a small rainbow-colored flag that attracted a lot of attention at the European Championship. The souvenir from Danish fans as a symbol of tolerance and diversity was cashed in by grim-looking stewards shortly before the quarter-finals kick off in Baku – and sparked another debate on the role of the European Football Union (UEFA), which began on Saturday evening with a comment on the incident irritated.
In a statement, the umbrella organization announced that it would investigate the actions of the security forces. The rainbow flag has been returned to the fan – and a symbol that embodies the core values of UEFA. First, however, UEFA received information about a “very drunk” fan who had trouble with other supporters in the stadium. The police “intervened and let the fans stay in spite of their condition.” The Danish association clearly contradicted this.
There were employees in the vicinity of the incident, tweeted Ronnie Hansen, commercial director of the association, on Sunday night. The UEFA investigation is supported. The umbrella association's view of the fan’s condition is not shared at all.
The scene in the Olympic Stadium in the Islamic capital of Azerbaijan is documented in photos. You can see two stewards having a heated discussion with the Danish fans. A folder tugged at the flag, which disappeared shortly afterwards. The exact background why the stewards intervened is still unclear.
In response to a dpa request, UEFA announced that it had not instructed the stewards in Baku or in other European Championship stadiums to confiscate rainbow flags. “Of course we will be in touch with the UEFA delegate, the UEFA security officer and the local authorities to sort this out,” it said.
In Danish media, the fan who brought the flag into the stadium said that stewards had snatched it from his hand. He was shocked about it. After the game, he received the flag from the association's fan coordinator. The Danish national coach Kasper Hjulmand said on the evening after his team's 2-1 win over the Czech Republic that he did not yet know exactly what had happened. “I've heard about it, but I haven't got any details yet,” said the 49-year-old during the press conference. “I would like to see what the details are.”
The symbolic rainbow colors for tolerance and sexual and gender diversity were already a huge EM topic in the group stage because UEFA had prohibited 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.
UEFA referred – albeit to be expected – to political neutrality and suggested alternative dates for the rainbow lighting. So far, the arena of the German record champions has not yet shone in rainbow colors, the city and the German Football Association are reportedly checking whether an appointment is still available.
As announced, UEFA partner Volkswagen did not use the colorful lighting of its own advertising boards in the game on Saturday, which were last seen in the round of 16 and in the quarter-finals on Friday evening in Munich. VW had announced the day before that UEFA had “concerns” “with regard to the legal framework at the venues in Russia and Azerbaijan”. The Foreign Office writes: “Azerbaijani law does not prohibit sexual acts between people of the same sex. However, homosexuality is hardly accepted in society and is subject to taboos.”
The car manufacturer stated that it regretted the development. UEFA referred to the local laws with which the sponsorship campaigns had to be compliant. The umbrella organization also announced that Volkswagen would stick to the campaign in the quarter-finals alone. “All other sponsors have decided to stop using rainbow colors in the tournament” because the “Pride month” of June was over.
