Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has reportedly cancelled his trip to watch his country's team play Germany in the Euros in Munich on Wednesday night.
The last-minute move comes after Munich's mayor Deiter Reiter and city council had threatened to light up Allianz Arena stadium in rainbow colours in protest against Hungary's anti-LGBT law.
But the UEFA denied their request because it was considered a political move - and have today defended their decision to ban the display and said they 'respect the rainbow'.
And now, Orban, who had planned to attend the Euro 2020 final group game at the Munich stadium on Wednesday, has cancelled his trip to the German city, German news agency DPA reported.
Orban has called on German politicians to accept the decision by the UEFA.
'Whether the Munich football stadium or another European stadium is lit in rainbow colors is not a state decision,' he told the agency, adding that the colours are seen in the streets of Budapest.
'In communist Hungary, homosexual people were persecuted. Today, the state not only guarantees the rights of homosexuals, but actively protects them.'
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has reportedly cancelled his trip to watch his country's team play Germany in the Euros in Munich tonight
UEFA have blocked the request to light up the Allianz Arena in rainbow colours on Wednesday
Dieter Reiter (pictured) branded UEFA 'shameful' as he announced plans to put up rainbow flag's at the city's town hall and illuminate a huge wind turbine close to the stadium
But amid controversy over the move, UEFA today issued a statement which said the organisation is 'proud to wear the colours of the rainbow'
Reiter had been pushing to illuminate the stadium in his city as a direct response to legislation approved by Orban's populist right-wing government in Hungary banning gay people from appearing in educational materials in schools or messages that promote gender change for under 18s.
European football's governing body, which appears to be developing a cosy relationship with Hungary — as demonstrated by its position as a back-up choice for the Euro 2020 final — dismissed the request because of its 'political
