UEFA EURO 2024 and LGBTQ+ discussion held at Wembley

This week we welcomed Miguel Berger, German ambassador to the United Kingdom, former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger, members of Stonewall FC and the Football Supporters’ Association to Wembley Stadium, for a discussion on the importance of inclusivity and allyship for LGBTQ+ communities ahead of UEFA EURO 2024.

Hitzlsperger, who played over 100 games in the Premier League for Aston Villa, West Ham and Everton, is a Foreign Ministry ambassador for this summer’s tournament and shared his experiences since coming out in 2014, as well discussing the importance of role models, and the work Germany is doing to ensure EURO 2024 is an inclusive and safe environment for all fans.

Across the ten host cities, fan zones are being created with inclusivity at the heart of their design to ensure they are welcoming and comfortable for all supporters. This will include audio-descriptive commentary and the option of gender-neutral toilets, while volunteers are being trained on diversity and inclusion to ensure they can help provide the most enjoyable experience possible for fans.

“Diversity is an integral part of my life, and this summer, the host cities are the key,” explained Hitzlsperger.

“Whether people have tickets or not, we want to bring everybody together, regardless of who they support or their background, and use the power of our sport to create friends and allies and learn from each other.”

The Euros will be a tournament for everyone, guided by respect, fairness, tolerance, inclusion and diversity - a home match for Europe.

Great to speak with the @FA, @StonewallFC, @WeAreTheFSA & @ThomasHitz at Wembley about Germany's preparations for #EURO2024. pic.twitter.com/YpUA0rIpJR

— Miguel Berger (@GermanAmbUK) April 23, 2024

He also confirmed the country’s emphasis on social sustainability this summer, encouraging supporters to use public transportation or to cycle to fan zones and stadiums where possible, while also adding that the German Government and UEFA have signed a human rights declaration ahead of the tournament to show their commitment to tackling discrimination.

There will be signposting within fan zones and stadiums to make clear that any form of discrimination will not be tolerated, with multiple options for fans to report incidents so they can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

Reflecting on the discussion, Hitzlsperger added: “It was a great, open discussion – to have this kind of exchange is vital and I thank the FA for inviting us to Wembley Stadium. This is only the beginning, and we will hopefully continue to make progress when it comes to diversity and inclusion.

"We know that football has the power to bring people together in a respectful way, and it is a platform that teaches us so much when it comes to fair play, camaraderie and team spirit. We’re excited about the tournament and we’re looking forward to hosting fans from all the nations. My message to all fans would be to come to Germany, support your team, make new friends and really enjoy it!”

Ambassador Berger set the scene for the evening with an introduction to those attending. He said: “We’re thrilled to be hosting EURO 2024 in Germany this summer, a 'Home match for Europe' guided by the values of diversity, freedom and mutual respect. We want UEFA EURO 2024 to be a fair competition with exciting matches and lots of goals, and an event where intolerance, hatred and agitation have no place - simply a fantastic experience for fans from Europe and from all over the world.

“It’s been great to hear about the preparations for the tournament, especially from a diversity perspective, from Thomas Hitzlsperger. I’m grateful to have had the chance to take part in his discussions with Stonewall FC players and others here at Wembley, the home of football. Many thanks to The FA for hosting this conversation!"

You‘ll be pleased to know that I ran onto the pitch and scored a screamer from the half way line 😂 #Wembley pic.twitter.com/qaZDN9GlVc

— Thomas Hitzlsperger (@ThomasHitz) April 23, 2024

The FA's EDI director Yasir Mirza, who welcomed the guests to Wembley Stadium, added: “We are passionate about making our game more inclusive for all communities, and we want all our supporters heading to Germany this summer to feel safe in the knowledge that they can be their true selves. It was brilliant to hear from Ambassador Berger and Thomas Hitzlsperger about their plans for the tournament, and they are really putting the fans at the heart of their thinking. It was also great to hear from members of Stonewall FC, who are trailblazers within the grassroots game and continue to break down barriers and bring people together in the most positive way.”

Stonewall FC is the highest-ranked openly LGBTQ+ football club in the UK, which aims to increase LGBTQ+ participation in the game. Now with over 160 members, the club has been running for over 30 years and in 2018, they became the first team to play a regular-season non-League match at Wembley, defeating AFC Wilberforce Wanderers 3-1 in a Middlesex County League Division One clash which marked the Rainbow Laces campaign.

Player Will Palmer said: “It was fantastic to meet a role model such as Thomas, and to talk to somebody who has those experiences of coming out and openly discuss what it means for him and the wider footballing community, and also how we can create a more inclusive environment moving forwards.

"We’ve seen challenges in the past with ensuring football is a welcoming place for everybody, but today’s event demonstrates that Germany has set out a clear commitment from the start that their country will be welcoming for all fans this summer.

"We’re looking forward to seeing how it goes and it seems like they’ve started the journey well. It was an amazing experience for us to get the opportunity to come together and have this conversation at this historic venue.”