The Euro 2020 may have been played a year later due to the Covid-19 pandemic but players and institutions did not shy away from addressing important issues that plague the world today. They took the knee to show their support against racism, wore armbands supporting the LGBTQIA+ community and even lit up a stadium in rainbow colours to show their solidarity. Here are some iconic moments from the tournament as it comes to a close
Updated On: 2021-07-12 05:05 PM IST
UEFA rejected a request from the Munich city council to light up the Allianz Arena for the match between Germany and Hungary to protest against the latter's recent anti-LGBTQIA+ law. The football body said it was because they were a “politically and religiously neutral organization”. However, it allowed the stadium to be lit up during Christopher Day Pride Week, which is celebrated to mark the 1969 Stonewall Riots. In this photo, a view of the Allianz Arena, lit in rainbow colors during the Christopher Street Day Pride Week in Munich on July 10, 2021. Photo: AFP
German captain Manuel Neuer showed his support for the LGBTQIA+ community by sporting the rainbow captain armband. It also inspired England captain Harry Kane to do the same in their match against Germany. They were two of three players to show their support during the sporting tournament. In this photo, Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is seen wearing the armband during the UEFA Euro 2020 Group F football match between Germany and Hungary at the Allianz Arena in Munich on June 23, 2021. Photo: AFP
The Euro 2020 coincided with the Pride Month and many players showed their support for the community. Apart from taking the knee with the team, England captain Harry Kane sported the rainbow armband to show his support for the community. In another match, Dutch captain Georginio Wijnaldum also sported a similar armband. In this file photo taken on June 29, 2021, England's forward Harry Kane wears a captain's armband bearing the rainbow colours during the UEFA Euro 2020 round of 16 football match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium in London. Photo: AFP
The English football players have been actively showing their intolerance towards racism faced by members of their team by taking the knee at all their matches in the last one year at the national and club level. In the Euro 2020, they were accompanied by the Welsh, Belgian, Portuguese, and Italian teams. In this photo, Belgium's players take a knee before the start of the UEFA Euro 2020 Group B football match between Belgium and Russia at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 12, 2021. Photo: AFP
Unfortunately, after England lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were subjected to racist posts, after they missed their penalties. This photo shows players taking a knee ahead of the final football match between Italy and England at the Wembley Stadium in London on July 11, 2021. Photo: AFP
