Soccer

Hungarian officials confiscating fans’ pride flags despite UEFA’s ruling

A woman wears a facemask bearing the rainbow colours as she holds a crate full of Rainbow flags outside the Allianz Arena ahead of the UEFA EURO 2020 Group F football match between Germany and Hungary, in Munich, on June 23, 2021. - With Germany due to play Hungary on June 23, 2021 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, city authorities had planned to light the stadium up in rainbow colours to "send a visible sign of solidarity" with Hungary's LGBTQ community. (Photo by KERSTIN JOENSSON / AFP) (Photo by KERSTIN JOENSSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Just a week after passing an anti-LGBTQ2+ law in the middle of ‘Pride Month,’ Hungary is again taking measures against the movement.

Before the Czech Republic versus Netherlands match in Budapest, Hungarian officials reportedly started confiscating fans’ pride flags. At first, fans blamed UEFA, which ran into a bit of controversy recently after investigating Germany’s Manuel Neuer over a rainbow armband. In the end, the investigation concluded with no punishment for Germany.

However, the organization came out to say pride flags are allowed on stadium grounds.

“We want to make it clear that it has not banned rainbow-colored symbols from the fan zone in Budapest and that the fan zone is the responsibility of the local authorities. UEFA would welcome such a symbol to the fan zone.”

UEFA

Hungary recently became well-known for its anti-LGBTQ2+ sentiment in its government. Before their team’s matchup against Germany, the government passed a law limiting LGBTQ2+ education. Coincidentally, the investigation into Germany and Neuer started soon after.

The nation also influenced UEFA when Allianz Arena couldn’t be lit in rainbow colors when Germany took on Hungary. Fans responded, donning pride gear around the stadium. A pitch invader even stormed the field with a rainbow flag during the Hungarian anthem.

UEFA experienced a fair share of LGBTQ2+ related controversy as of late. This comes despite the organization’s “Equal Game” movement that it promoted before the Euros. The movement sought to promote equality and stop racism, homophobia, and any other discrimination within the game.

Given the fan response in Munich at the Allianz Arena, fans of the Netherlands may respond similarly. The Dutch take on the Czech Republic today in the second matchday in the knockout stages. Yesterday’s matches saw Denmark and Italy book their spots in the quarterfinals. Belgium and Portugal round off the matchday as one of the tournament’s most anticipated games.

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