UEFA tells sponsors not to use rainbow-colored ads in Russia, Azerbaijan

UEFA has asked its sponsors not to use rainbow-colored advertising in stadiums in Baku and St Petersburg during the Euro 2020 quarter-finals, Volkswagen said on Friday. “Due to UEFA’s concerns regarding the legal framework for venues in Russia and Azerbaijan, the association informed us that it would not be possible to use rainbow-colored advertising on billboards in St. Petersburg and Baku,” the automobile giant said in a statement. Wrote AFP.

Earlier in the tournament, during Germany’s group-stage match against Hungary, the city of Munich wanted to light up the Allianz Arena in rainbow colors in support of the LGBTQ community.

But UEFA refused the permission of the local authorities.

Several Euro sponsors, including Volkswagen, instead broadcast rainbow-colored advertisements in stadiums during the last-16 matches, although none of those games were played in Russia or Azerbaijan.

Volkswagen said it “regrets” UEFA’s latest denial, adding that it wanted to “send a clear signal in favor of diversity”.

The company said it would be allowed to show rainbow-colored ads in Rome and London during the rest of the European Championships.