At the upcoming international match against Hungary in Budapest, the German national soccer team will not kneel before kick-off. DFB director Oliver Bierhoff on Thursday, during a press conference, referred to the last game against the English, when both teams kneeled against racism. “We wanted to support the English action, but nothing is planned for Hungary now.”
When the English team played in Budapest a week ago, the players drew displeasure from the stands for their political gesture. There were mostly children there.
Hungary referred to Article 73 of the Disciplinary Code, according to which the ban on visiting ghost games does not apply to children under the age of 14 accompanied by schools or football schools.
When the Hungarian and German sides met during last year’s European Championships in Munich, there was a fuss about the Hungarian government’s stance on homosexuality. Prime Minister Viktor Orban had passed a law to protect children from early sexualisation.
In response, helpers distributed rainbow flags in front of the stadium in Munich. The stadium was lit up in rainbow colours and a gay flag was displayed during the playing of the Hungarian national anthem. During the game, the Hungarian crowds responded with chants of “Germany, Germany, homosexual”.