The governing body of European football insisted doing so would be a ‘political act’ that goes against its stance as a neutral organisation. They said it was wrong to interpret the rejection as political, insisting ‘the request itself was political’. The statement added: ‘For Uefa, the rainbow is not a political symbol but a sign of our commitment to a more firm and diverse society’. Uefa has proposed alternative dates for the Allianz Arena to be lit up in rainbow colours. Neuer wore the armband to show his support for the LGBT+ community during Pride Month, prompting Uefa to investigate whether it could be viewed as a political statement.

Source: Metro June 23, 2021 11:29 UTC