Borussia Dortmund President Hans-Joachim Watzke has publicly responded to the ongoing controversy regarding Felix Nmecha’s goal celebration, which has raised concerns among fans. Following his two-goal performance against Elversberg (2–1), the German international recreated the removal of an invisible crown, placing it on the pitch, a gesture linked to the “The King’s Return” campaign and the “Ballers in God” network. This network has faced public criticism from BVB’s Fan and Supporters’ Department recently.
In a discussion on the “colourFIELD tell-a-vision” podcast, Watzke acknowledged the fan base’s concerns, stating, “The Fan Department is perfectly entitled to start a discussion like this. I attended their annual general meeting on Monday. Those who were bothered by parts of his celebration were clearly in the majority. In that case, you have to take it seriously and discuss it.”
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Furthermore, Watzke emphasized that the issue at hand is not a personal matter nor a critique of Nmecha’s faith. “I like Felix Nmecha very much. We have a very, very good relationship and talk frequently. As a practicing Catholic, I’m also the last person who would want to forbid anyone from praying. That’s not what this is about at all. It’s perfectly legitimate, too. The only issue we’re discussing with him is the second part of his celebration,” he clarified.
Watzke specifically referred to the act of placing the imaginary crown on the ground, noting the possible implications: “When he scores a goal and points his index fingers upward, everyone knows he wants to thank God. He’s welcome to make the sign of the cross as well. But placing the crown on the pitch—that does, of course, have something of a link to ‘Ballers in God.’ I don’t even want to pass judgment on it. But when I look at what they stand for, Borussia Dortmund’s code of core values and the fundamental outlook of ‘Ballers in God’ aren’t entirely compatible.”
In addressing the club’s stance, Watzke stated, “And that’s why people here—especially in the Fan Department—get the impression that an attempt is being made to create a link to ‘Ballers in God.’ We don’t want that in our own home.”
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Behind the scenes, club officials have initiated discussions with the 26-year-old player. Watzke shared, “I told him: Felix, if you sense that it’s dividing the fans, perhaps you’ll also come to see that you should stop doing it because it divides them. He wants to think it over. We had a wonderful conversation with him. We spent an hour on a video call. That’s where things stand now, and he’ll think about it. I hope we can find a sensible solution.” This indicates a hopeful outcome, as Watzke expressed that he prefers Nmecha to abandon the gesture. Meanwhile, Nmecha has clarified that his celebration is not intended to support any particular organization or promote intolerance or discrimination.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
