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German teams to light stadiums with rainbow colors after UEFA denied Munich's request

With Munich unable to light up its stadium in rainbow colors, the rest of Germany will pick up the slack. Stadiums in Augsburg, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt and Wolfsburg will light up their arenas in rainbow colors when Hungary plays Germany in Euro 2020 on Wednesday.

Munich asked UEFA if it could light up its stadium in rainbow colors for Wednesday's game, but the group denied Munich's request, citing it as a "political" gesture. Hungary passed a law in June banning the "display and promotion of homosexuality" to people under 18, according to Reuters.

Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter did not deny the political nature of his proposal. In the application to UEFA, Reiter said it was important to stand up to Hungary's "homophobic and transphobic legislation," according to the Associated Press.

“It is important for the state capital Munich to set a visible sign of solidarity with the LGBTI community in Hungary, which is suffering from the current stricter homophobic and transphobic legislation of the Hungarian government,” the Munich council said in its application.

UEFA denied Reiter's proposal. Reiter ripped the organization for that decision, and said the city will display rainbows all around Munich to send a message to Hungary and its new law.

Munich cannot light up its stadium with rainbow colors when Hungary comes to town in Euro 2020 on Wednesday. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Getty Images)
Munich cannot light up its stadium with rainbow colors when Hungary comes to town in Euro 2020 on Wednesday. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Getty Images)

Other German stadiums will light up with rainbow colors

Other stadiums in Germany will show solidarity with Munich by lighting up their arenas with rainbow colors. Stadiums in Augsburg, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt and Wolfsburg will participate in the gesture Wednesday.

Unlike Munich, those stadiums are not under the jurisdiction of UEFA, and don't have to follow UEFA's ruling.

While Munich is unable to light up its stadium, there are other ways the team and its fans can push back against Hungary's law. Germany's minister for Europe Michael Roth encouraged fans to show up to the game with flags to show they oppose UEFA's decision.

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