UEFA cannot be used as a tool by politicians: Chief Ceferin

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. Pic/AFP

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Wednesday said the footballing body could not give in to populist requests from politicians, as he defended the decision not to allow Munich's Allianz Arena to be lit up in rainbow colours.

"UEFA cannot be used as a tool by politicians," Ceferin told Germany's Die Welt newspaper after Munich's mayor had made the rainbow request in protest at Hungary's anti-LGBTQ law. "We don't want to be used in populist actions," Ceferin said, while insisting that "UEFA is not a homophobic organisation". Meanwhile, UEFA on Wednesday added the rainbow to its logo.

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In a statement European football's governing body said it is proud to wear the colours of the rainbow, a symbol for the LGBTQ community. UEFA said that the rainbow was a symbol that embodies our core values, promoting everything that we believe in - a more just and egalitarian society, tolerant of everyone, regardless of their background, belief or gender. And it insisted that its decision to turn down Munich's request was not political, saying that the rainbow is not a political symbol, but a sign of our firm commitment to a more diverse and inclusive society.

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