Borussia Dortmund has requested that midfielder Felix Nmecha stop using a specific goal celebration that has drawn backlash from the club's fans.
The decision follows a meeting of the BVB fan and support department on Monday evening, where club president Hans-Joachim Watzke confirmed the organization’s stance, according to ZDFheute. Watzke, who became president in November 2025, indicated that he largely agrees with the criticism raised by the fan and support department, while noting that Nmecha has behaved respectfully since his 2023 transfer from VfL Wolfsburg.
The controversy centers on Nmecha’s habit of kneeling and placing an imaginary crown on the pitch after scoring. The gesture is associated with the “The King’s Return” campaign, which is linked to the evangelical network “Ballers in God.” Critics, including the BVB fan and support department, have argued that the network promotes an exclusionary worldview that disparages individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, as reported by sportschau.de.
The department explicitly stated that faith should not be used to justify exclusion, division, or the failure to acknowledge societal diversity. “Ballers in God,” founded in 2015, maintains a social media presence with nearly 800,000 followers and frequently shares content featuring professional footballers performing these gestures.
Borussia Dortmund has also signaled its intention to demand that “Ballers in God” stop using the German international in promotional materials while he is wearing the club’s jersey.
The club’s internal discussions follow Nmecha’s performance during a 2-1 victory over SV Elversberg, where he displayed the gesture twice. In a statement released via Instagram on Monday evening, Nmecha addressed the criticism, stating: My message was never intended to promote intolerance, discrimination, or hatred in any form.
He further explained his intent, writing that he aimed to point toward Jesus as his source of strength and hope rather than highlighting himself or any specific organization, as noted by Absolut Fussball.
He added: Vielmehr geht es darum, meine ‘Krone’ vor dem bald wiederkehrenden König niederzulegen und auf Jesus hinzuweisen – auf meine Hoffnung und meine Stärke!
Nmecha also cited the Bible verse John 3:16 to conclude his message.
The debate has reached the national team level, with head coach Jürgen Klopp and sports director Rudi Völler holding a meeting with Nmecha at the DFB team headquarters in Herzogenaurach.
While details of the conversation remain private, the DFB has confirmed that the topic was discussed, according to ZDFheute. DFB-Sportdirektor Rudi Völler äußerte sich im Podcast “Kernes 11” zum Thema Religionsfreiheit und versuchte, die Brisanz aus der Diskussion um Felix Nmecha zu nehmen.
Nmecha Faced Scrutiny over Previous Religious Associations
The association of Nmecha with “Ballers in God” has previously caused friction. The player faced similar scrutiny during the 2026 World Cup in the United States, particularly following his goal in Germany’s 7-1 win against Curaçao in Houston, where he was observed praying on the pitch with teammates and opponents.
Past investigations by the ARD magazine “Monitor” suggested that the network’s associated chats have described abortion as “Satan’s plan” and taken stances against lesbian relationships, which Nmecha has previously denied when facing accusations of holding homophobic or queer-hostile views.
When asked about Nmecha during a press conference on Tuesday, striker Niclas Füllkrug declined to engage with the controversy, stating: I can only say that I have come to know Felix as a very loving, nice person, he continues to be that way toward me, and everything else is simply not my topic,
as reported by T-Online.
While club officials express an expectation of compliance, the player has not yet granted a detailed interview to provide further context beyond his social media statement, and he did not respond to requests for comment from Sport Bild. It remains unclear whether Nmecha will fully abandon the gesture or if he views his recent social media clarification as sufficient to continue the practice.
