UEFA refuse to sanction illuminating Munich Stadium in rainbow colours

Kermit.de.frog

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0622/1229644-uefa-block-rainbow-illumination-at-munich-stadium/

"However UEFA, through its statutes, is a politically and religiously neutral organisation. Given the political context of this specific request - a message aiming at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament - UEFA must decline this request."

I think this is correct. I have always been of the view that politics and sport should be kept entirely separate regardless of the issue at hand.

What do you think?

Bubbaclaus

I didn't realise equality is a political position.

athlone99

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0622/1229644-uefa-block-rainbow-illumination-at-munich-stadium/



I think this is correct. I have always been of the view that politics and sport should be kept entirely separate regardless of the issue at hand.

What do you think?

There's more politics in sport than politics itself!

duffman13

Uefa, a pillar of sports organisations. If I was the German FA I'd just do it anyway! It's an equality issue and a wider problem in parts of Eastern Europe and any rational individual would have no problem with this.

ballsymchugh

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0622/1229644-uefa-block-rainbow-illumination-at-munich-stadium/



I think this is correct. I have always been of the view that politics and sport should be kept entirely separate regardless of the issue at hand.

What do you think?

the very nature of international football is political.

Calahonda52

athlone99 wrote: »

There's more politics in sport than politics itself!

Most notably in 1936 with the Olympics in Nazi Germany
Jesse Owens

Smee_Again

Keep politics out of sport they say as 2 teams representing political entities compete against each other.

Bubbaclaus

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Most notably in 1936 with the Olympics in Nazi Germany
Jesse Owens

"He should keep his hand down and leave the politics to the politicians" - Boards user, 1936

Allinall

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0622/1229644-uefa-block-rainbow-illumination-at-munich-stadium/



I think this is correct. I have always been of the view that politics and sport should be kept entirely separate regardless of the issue at hand.

What do you think?

Is that why they’ve banned players taking the knee before matches?

Oh wait……

randd1

Why don't the Germans just do it anyway? And it's not like your average Hungarian will care either way.

irelandrover

It is clearly a political move to illuminate the stadium in protest about laws passed by their opponents government. I wouldn't have an issue with it but to say it isn't a political statement is being disingenuous.

Wheety

If that's their stance, why haven't they banned the players from taking the knee before games?

I think they should be seen to promote things like equality and standing up to regimes which restrict those rights.

Kermit.de.frog

duffman13 wrote: »

It's an equality issue

I don't think that is the actual issue.

The problem is that it would be a political statement targeting a member country that happens to be competing in the same tournament.

Of course that is not going to be allowed.

radiospan

Seems fair enough to me. At least I can understand their reasoning.

Taking the knee is highlighting racial inequality in general, it's not done specifically to make a political statement against a certain team. It's done in all matches, not just when Hungary (for example) are in town.

Colouring Munich stadium exactly because Hungary are playing, seems much more like a targeted political statement to me than taking the knee in every game.

ArmaniJeanss

duffman13 wrote: »

Uefa, a pillar of sports organisations. If I was the German FA I'd just do it anyway! It's an equality issue and a wider problem in parts of Eastern Europe and any rational individual would have no problem with this.

There's nothing in the article in the OP to suggest that the German FA are behind this or want to do it - the request has come from the Mayor of Munich. I don't know if that title of Mayor indicates any power or whether it's similar to Hazel Chu in Dublin.
But regardless it looks like a bit of a non-story really, local politician stirring it.
Also on a technical point, the German FA couldn't just do this anyway, they have little or no rights of entry to the ground during the competition - it's a UEFA stadium even down to a change of name.

Donald Trump

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Most notably in 1936 with the Olympics in Nazi Germany
Jesse Owens

What head of state famously snubbed Jesse Owens after his Olympic medal wins?

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Bubbaclaus

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

I didn't realise equality is a political position.

Sure it is. What else could it be.

For most of its communist era Hungary had no laws against homosexuality. It was made legal in 1961, at which time homosexual acts in Ireland were, of course, illegal and would be for three decades, and all 50 states in the US banned it. It was down to 14 states by 2003.

So was communist Hungary more "equal" than the US? I suppose so.

Sullovan

randd1 wrote: »

Why don't the Germans just do it anyway? And it's not like your average Hungarian will care either way.

It’s a major tournament which means the Germans don’t have control of the stadium. UEFA have control of the production and broadcast of these events there will be no one from the German FA in a position to turn the lights on. Not that I think they want to anyway pretty sure it was just one local politician who mentioned it .

Elmer Blooker

I wonder if the Mayor of Munich will have a problem with Germany taking part in next years World Cup in Qatar?

sprucemoose

Donald Trump wrote: »

What head of state famously snubbed Jesse Owens after his Olympic medal wins?

Franklin D. Roosevelt

someone watches QI

Cordell

Should we allow the disrespecting of the anthem by supporting a highly divisive organization while anthems are played? Sure, go ahead.
Should we allow supporting of real discrimination by doing something that doesn't interfere with what happens on the pitch in any way? No, it's a political situation.

F off UEFA, bunch of crooks anyway.

Gatling

From world 2 allies to having a bitch fest over a flag football is a funny ould game

suicide_circus

Large corporate entity displays rainbow flag shocker

I'm enjoying the Euros, even though it's a farce without Ireland there obviously But it's a corporate circus. Sporting spectacle.

The Germans are proposing to add to add some extra circus. The Hungarians will do their circus act too and point to the Respect badge.

For me the q is, How on earth can circus attendees (aka fans) legitimately complain about the addition of extra circus? If the butcher gave me 10% extra rashers for free I wouldn't be howling and whining about it!

Bobblehats

It’s actually a hugely respectful gesture toward a minority, from UEFA they are upholding their principles. Keep it neutral guys

Muahahaha

athlone99 wrote: »

There's more politics in sport than politics itself!

Yeah its bit rich of UEFA saying they want to keep politics out of sport when they will invite a gaggle of Prime Ministers and other politicians to watch the final from their corporate boxes

Sport and politics have always been intertwined. Of course it would be great if they werent but thats just an idealistic position that seeks to ignore the reality of the situation. Politicians have always used sport for their own ends and always will.

Fandymo

duffman13 wrote: »

Uefa, a pillar of sports organisations. If I was the German FA I'd just do it anyway! It's an equality issue and a wider problem in parts of Eastern Europe and any rational individual would have no problem with this.

The German FA didn’t make the request.

biko

They should illuminate it when Turkey is playing next. For equality.

meeeeh

If you allow this type of stuff everyone will be illuminating something. Then you have to explain why Ukrainian jerseys were banned and this is allowed and so on. If UEFA want to have their own campaign fine but in individual countries. What happens when another member state like Hungary decides to celebrate some of their own nonsense in response to that. They are all members of Uefa.

Personally I'd favour UEFA actively calling out discrimination by states. They already say that they support human rights, I would say it's pretty important for them to stand by their own principles. Instead it's more turning a blind eye.

https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/social-responsibility/competitions/

BlaktainPicard

Why do we have to have this pride sh1t rammed down our throats all the f*cking time ??? !!!
We get it, gay rights, I even voted yes in 2015, but just f*ck off with wanting this stupid flag EVERYWHERE all the f*cking time!!!

Get over yourselves !!, no one cares what you do with your genitals - really


Mod: Banned

jakiah

Fandymo wrote: »

The German FA didn’t make the request.

Nope, it came from a politician trying to make a name for themselves, precisley as warned would happen on the 'kneeling' thread. Only a matter of time before the populist right start pushing for this stuff in the official matchday and all hell breaks loose.

Nozebleed

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0622/1229644-uefa-block-rainbow-illumination-at-munich-stadium/



I think this is correct. I have always been of the view that politics and sport should be kept entirely separate regardless of the issue at hand.

What do you think?

yeh i agree with UEFA's decision. The Pride flag does not represent me. its certainly not all inclusive when it comes to wider society. politics has no place in sport, unfotunately there is an agenda to politicise everything these days.

irelandrover

BlaktainPicard wrote: »

Why do we have to have this pride sh1t rammed down our throats all the f*cking time ??? !!!
We get it, gay rights, I even voted yes in 2015, but just f*ck off with wanting this stupid flag EVERYWHERE all the f*cking time!!!

Get over yourselves !!, no one cares what you do with your genitals - really

Based on the laws just passed in Hungary the part in bold just clearly isn't true.

I think UEFA are right here as it was clearly going to be used as a form of protest against Hungary.
If germany wanted to display it at every game then they probably would have been allowed.

Chips Lovell

Politics has regularly intertwined itself with sport. You only have to look back at the South African boycott of the 70's and 80's to see a precedent for countries being called out. Of course, there are plenty of less edifying incidents, such as the 1980 and 1984 retaliatory Olympic boycotts. So I guess the question is less should these kinds of protests ever happen and more about whether it is motivated by genuine principle.

sprucemoose

Nozebleed wrote: »

The Pride flag does not represent me. its certainly not all inclusive when it comes to wider society.

if thats your problem with it then you need to grow up a bit

Zaph

I don't understand why the mayor of Munich asked for permission from UEFA to do this, surely he can't have expected them to say yes given that they made a fuss over Neuer's armband? Why didn't he just fire ahead anyway, easier to seek forgiveness afterwards than permission beforehand and all that. It's not as if the game wouldn't go ahead if the stadium was lit up like that, and you can't see the external lights once inside, so it's not like it would be on TV throughout the match.

Fandymo

Zaph wrote: »

I don't understand why the mayor of Munich asked for permission from UEFA to do this, surely he can't have expected them to say yes given that they made a fuss over Neuer's armband? Why didn't he just fire ahead anyway, easier to seek forgiveness afterwards than permission beforehand and all that. It's not as if the game wouldn't go ahead if the stadium was lit up like that, and you can't see the external lights once inside, so it's not like it would be on TV throughout the match.

Because he has literally no say in what happens at a UEFA stadium during a tournament. Or the Bayern Stadium during a bundesliga game. He’s basically Hazel Chu with a German accent.

Nozebleed

sprucemoose wrote: »

if thats your problem with it then you need to grow up a bit

sorry that my heterosexuality is a problem for you guys.

sprucemoose

Nozebleed wrote: »

sorry that my heterosexuality is a problem for you guys.

it isnt a problem, but then again i dont have any problems with others expressing their sexuality, especially one that tends to not get treated too well by certain sports

conorhal

Zaph wrote: »

I don't understand why the mayor of Munich asked for permission from UEFA to do this, surely he can't have expected them to say yes given that they made a fuss over Neuer's armband? Why didn't he just fire ahead anyway, easier to seek forgiveness afterwards than permission beforehand and all that. It's not as if the game wouldn't go ahead if the stadium was lit up like that, and you can't see the external lights once inside, so it's not like it would be on TV throughout the match.

Sounds like they have a Herr Hazel Chu as mayor there too trying to drum up some media attention for themselves.

Dyr

Unusual to see the rules being applied to our modern sacred cow


But then UEFA will be having soccerball competitions in stadiums built by slaves soon and the Hazel Choo Choo crew won't be looking for special lights then.

jakiah

Zaph wrote: »

I don't understand why the mayor of Munich asked for permission from UEFA to do this, surely he can't have expected them to say yes given that they made a fuss over Neuer's armband? Why didn't he just fire ahead anyway, easier to seek forgiveness afterwards than permission beforehand and all that. It's not as if the game wouldn't go ahead if the stadium was lit up like that, and you can't see the external lights once inside, so it's not like it would be on TV throughout the match.

If UEFA acceded to every tinpot politician in Europe who wanted to shove their pet cause into the matchday there would be murder.

The homosexuality issue in the likes of Hungary & Russia is already framed as a human rights issue, except from the other direction - 'Protect our children from this poison' etc, whats to stop them now injecting that into matchday under the same 'human rights' argument?

Fandymo

Bambi wrote: »

Unusual to see the rules being applied to our modern sacred cow


But then UEFA will be having soccerball competitions in stadiums built by slaves soon and the Hazel Choo Choo crew won't be looking for special lights then.

I think you have mixed up FIFA with UEFA.

Shebean

Contrary to what we are sold, the public can bring about change. When governments don't go far enough, people step up. That's in part why we've BLM and Pride. Musicians played a major role in ending Apartheid in S. Africa with raising public awareness. Public pressure and protest has changed the world, brought down the Berlin wall, given women the vote. There are people who have no interest in the news never mind foreign news. If people are being arrested, tortured and generally treated as less than because of their sexual orientation, it's the duty of decent people to speak up on their behalf. If the Hungarian government are angered or embarrassed, good.

conorhal

conorhal wrote: »

Sounds like they have a Herr Hazel Chu as mayor there too trying to drum up some media attention for themselves.

Damn that mayor and their irresponsible highlighting of human rights issues.. The fact it doesn't get lit up doesn't matter as they've now drawn attention to a serious human rights issue. UEFA don't come out of it great though.

In great news, Germany is gonna go all out and rainbow up the country. This includes multiple team stadiums in Germany that will be doing it.

https://www.the42.ie/uefa-rainbow-colours-germany-hungary-5473546-Jun2021/

I believe a fair few posters in this thread have a tendency to praise Hungary's government.

ceegee

Cordell wrote: »

Should we allow the disrespecting of the anthem by supporting a highly divisive organization while anthems are played? Sure, go ahead.
Should we allow supporting of real discrimination by doing something that doesn't interfere with what happens on the pitch in any way? No, it's a political situation.

F off UEFA, bunch of crooks anyway.

In what way are UEFA allowing anthems to be disrespected?

twowheelsonly

BlaktainPicard wrote: »

Why do we have to have this pride sh1t rammed down our throats all the f*cking time ??? !!!
We get it, gay rights, I even voted yes in 2015, but just f*ck off with wanting this stupid flag EVERYWHERE all the f*cking time!!!

Get over yourselves !!, no one cares what you do with your genitals - really

You're going to thrilled next week.

Government departments / offices have been issued with a rainbow flag to be flown between the 26th and 28th of June in solidarity with.... yadda.....yadda....yadda...

I'd agree with you that it becomes tiresome. Frankly, everybody knows a few gay people and basically most people don't give a flyers about the sexuality of their friends.Even some gay friends of mine that I was talking to this week (1 male, 1 female) are sick of it.

twowheelsonly

twowheelsonly wrote: »

You're going to thrilled next week.

Government departments / offices have been issued with a rainbow flag to be flown between the 26th and 28th of June in solidarity with.... yadda.....yadda....yadda...

I'd agree with you that it becomes tiresome. Frankly, everybody knows a few gay people and basically most people don't give a flyers about the sexuality of their friends.Even some gay friends of mine that I was talking to this week (1 male, 1 female) are sick of it.

Ah yes, the classic citing of gay friends to make a point seem more legit... I think it's good to highlight human rights violations. Great that Germany views it to be important.

.42.

Happy enough with the UEFA decision.

jakiah

Deleted User wrote: »

Damn that mayor and their irresponsible highlighting of human rights issues.. The fact it doesn't get lit up doesn't matter as they've now drawn attention to a serious human rights issue. UEFA don't come out of it great though.

In great news, Germany is gonna go all out and rainbow up the country. This includes multiple team stadiums in Germany that will be doing it.

https://www.the42.ie/uefa-rainbow-colours-germany-hungary-5473546-Jun2021/

I believe a fair few posters in this thread have a tendency to praise Hungary's government.

Great news and exactly where political protest belongs - outside the official matchday proceedings.