UEFA orders Hungary to play three games behind closed doors due to discriminatory behaviour by fans

Hungary has been ordered to play their next three matches behind closed doors.

In response to racial abuse from supporters during Hungary’s Euro 2020 group stage games, UEFA has ordered them to play their next three competition matches behind closed doors.

There has also been a two-year suspension, and the Hungarian Football Federation has been fined €100,000 ($118,845) and ordered to display a sign that features UEFA’s “#EqualGame” logo. FIFA’s jurisdiction extends to the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, which do not fall under the provisions of this ruling.

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In Hungary’s opening match against Portugal at Euro 2020, there was a homophobic banner spotted in the stands, and monkey chants were heard during their draw with France. Both of the games were played at Budapest’s Puskas Arena. The match between Germany and Hungary ended with an alleged homophobic chant from the crowd.

On the grounds that the gesture is political, UEFA declined a request to light up Munich’s Allianz Arena in rainbow colours for a match against Germany. Dieter Reiter, the city’s mayor, approached the European Football Association with the request. In a statement to UEFA, they said the mayor was making the request due to laws in Hungary banning homosexuals from appearing in school educational materials and programs for under-18s.

As a result, UEFA denied the request and suggested alternative dates to light up the stadium in rainbow colours. Later, Reiter called the ruling “shameful”.