On Wednesday, as Germany's team took on Hungary in the European Football Championships, Munich wanted to light up its sports arena in rainbow color. It's a statement of support for persons from LGBTQ+—and a strong jab to Hungary that has just approved a law that prohibits the promotion to youngsters of homosexuality.

The United States, many European countries, and several human rights organizations have criticized the contentious bill roundly. The U.S. Department of State stated that it contained prohibitions that "have no place in a democracy."

However, the Munich Council rejected the appeal of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). UEFA emphasized in a declaration that "it is a politically and religiously neutral organization." In view of this particular demand, "the UEFA must refuse this demand because of the political backdrop — the message intended towards a Hungarian Parliament decision."

UEFA says it proposed to light up the town with the rainbow colors for the other Munich dates.

Mayor Dieter Reiter from Munich has already told UEFA to ask for the Allianz Arena to send "a sign of cosmopolitanism and tolerance," and "a signal for our common understanding of values which can be seen from afar," on behalf of the town council.

The request was supported by the German National Team Leon Goretzka as well as the Hungarian Willi Orban and Prime Minister of Bavaria Markus Söder and the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany.

The LSVD Spokesman Markus Ulrich said to the Sport-Informations-Dienste: "We, as an organization, find it quite unsettling to see UEFA dealing with ideals that should usually be acceptable in society. "UEFA has failed to understand the indications of the times – and the side that it takes with its decision is obvious." "

Some of the German soccer teams, the Bundesliga, advocated for their own stadiums with the rainbow colors in response to UEFA's decision. For example, in the German-Hungarian game on Wednesday, Cologne and Eintracht Frankfurt announced their stadiums will be highlighted by a demonstration of support for diversity.

In addition to partners such as Amnesty International, Germany's "Christophen Street Days" organization is preparing to offer 11,000 rainbow flags to the spectators in Munich, the annual LGbTQ+ festivities and demonstrations taking place around the country on the first weekend of July.

In a statement, the organization said, "Let us demonstrate to the LGBTIQ in Hungary that they are not alone." "Let's also show the entire globe that all people must be entitled to human rights."