Hummels and Low would have liked rainbow colours to light stadium

Germany defender Mats Hummels and coach Joachim Low said on Tuesday they would have liked the Allianz Arena to be lit up with the colours of the rainbow before their game against Hungary on Wednesday.

UEFA refused a request from Munich's mayor for the stadium to be lit up in protest at an anti-LGBTQ law, saying the message was too political.

“For me personally, I would have enjoyed it [the stadium being lit up]. I am a supporter of messages like this to the world, full stop," Hummels said.

“Footballers and other sporting personalities can have a positive impact and send the right signs.

“I think we can be happy how many of the lads, especially in our national team, are aware of their responsibilities.

“It's good to have it as a discussion, we need to talk about it in public and when we arrived I had a similar shirt with the same message."

Coach Low said: “I would have been happy if the stadium had been illuminated in the rainbow colours.

“They should be shown, these values. We have sent these signals in the past and we will in the future. The important thing is to live these values.”