UEFA is considering taking measures against the Hungarian Football Association. The reason is a banner related to homophobia that had to be removed from the Puskás Aréna on Tuesday evening during the European Championship match against Portugal. The Athletic. Photos were posted on social media of Hungarian fans posing with banners against the LGBTI community. The football association received a report from the anti-discrimination network FARE and will look into whether sanctions should be taken.
FARE daily sends observers to the matches at the European Championships to report incidents and undesirable behavior to the European Football Association. On Tuesday evening, the organization had a banner that read ‘ANTI-LHBTQ’ removed and talks were held with UEFA officials. After the game, the European Football Association received a report referring to a banner against the gay community. Thousands of Hungarians took part in a protest march against homophobic changes in the law on Tuesday.
These images, inside the stadium in Budapest, come a week after Hungarian fans booed Irish players taking the knee. @farenet anti discrimination campaigner @PiaraPowar says “the situation in Hungary is problematic” https://t.co/6Qf2c9bIYK pic.twitter.com/NnUJb1bTVV
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) June 16, 2021
“The Hungarian Football Federation and the Hungarian National Team give maximum respect to everyone. Whether it’s a teammate, an opponent, a fan or someone else,” a spokesperson for the Hungarian Football Association said The Athletic. “Football could become the most popular sport in the world precisely because it belongs to everyone. Our federation has been fighting all forms of hatred and discrimination for years as part of the ‘Hatred is not OK’ campaign. The flag in question has been removed from the stadium as soon as it was noticed.”
Last week there was also a commotion in Hungary, when supporters booed the Irish players ahead of the friendly against Ireland after they had fallen on their knees in protest against racism and discrimination. Piara Power, director of FARE, sees hardly any improvements in the country. “The situation in Hungary is problematic and we need a better and firmer approach to respect universal rights. The Football Association issued a statement last week when they knew the Irish players would be on their knees, stating that it was only a political gesture. It all fits together.”
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