Unauthorized social media posts linking Germany manager Jürgen Klopp to an evangelical network have drawn a firm denial from the German Football Association (DFB), DER SPIEGEL reported.
The controversy surrounds the evangelical network “Ballers in God,” which previously utilized video clips and interview snippets of Klopp on its social media channels, Main-Post reported. The organization also posted an image of the 59-year-old manager on Instagram during his appointment at the DFB, pairing his photograph with a past statement about his Christian faith originally made during his tenure at Liverpool.
Those publications created the public impression that Klopp endorsed the controversial organization. However, the DFB stated in response to inquiries from RTL and Sky that the posts were used without any consent or prior knowledge from Klopp, BILD reported. Klopp has spoken publicly about his Christian faith on multiple occasions throughout his career, though he has consistently maintained those views without any affiliation to a specific religious community.
The digital footprint of “Ballers in God” gained renewed attention following actions by Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha. The 26-year-old player celebrated goals during a 2-1 Bundesliga victory over SV Elversberg by performing a crown gesture on the pitch. Nmecha said that the symbol demonstrates his devotion to Jesus and God, imagery heavily promoted by “Ballers in God.”
The network itself faces ongoing public criticism regarding homophobic and queerphobic statements attributed to some of its members, a group that includes Nmecha. Following discussions at the team quarters in Herzogenaurach with Klopp and DFB sporting director Rudi Völler, Nmecha distanced himself from those critical statements while reaffirming his personal religious convictions, according to Main-Post.
Media reports indicated that Borussia Dortmund may have instructed Nmecha to halt the specific goal celebration, though the DFB stated no such official prohibition has been issued by the national team governing body.
Investigations revealed that “Ballers in God” shared up to three distinct videos featuring the national team manager. One specific clip originated from Klopp’s appearance on the podcast “The Diary of a CEO” recorded in October 2025 while he served as Global Sports Director for Red Bull. That particular social media sequence combined readings of biblical verses with footage of Klopp coaching Liverpool.
BILD detailed that additional imagery from Klopp’s official unveiling as the DFB manager was similarly published alongside statements concerning his personal faith without his consent. The association reiterated that Klopp had no involvement with the network’s promotional activities.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke expressed a desire for Nmecha to refrain from using the controversial goal celebration. DFB officials used their meeting in Herzogenaurach to make clear to the midfielder that any public backing from team leadership requires assurances that the player does not align himself with problematic values.
The national team turns its immediate focus toward competitive play as the squad prepares to face Serbia in Belgrade. The fixture serves as the penultimate group match in the UEFA Nations League.
Germany currently sits third in the group standings behind the Netherlands and Greece. Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 20:45 local time (UTC+1) with a broadcast on RTL, making a victory against the group’s bottom-placed side essential for their tournament standing.
