Felix Nmecha crown celebration controversy at Borussia Dortmund, Digi Mart USA News: Borussia Dortmund is level on points with league leader Bayern Munich and is in serious contention for the title for the first time in a long while. Yet, according to a Bild report, parts of the club are now publicly at odds with one another over midfielder Felix Nmecha and his highly controversial crown celebration after goals.
Nmecha, 26, has four goals this season, including a brace in the 2-1 win over Elversberg, after which he performed the celebration widely referred to as “The King’s Return.” Bild reports that the club had earlier held internal talks asking him to stop the gesture and not to spread it on social media, but the celebrations reportedly continued and have circulated widely online.
Bild reports that the gesture is linked to the evangelical network “Ballers in God” (BiG), whose campaign symbol it reportedly is. According to the report, research including by the ARD program “Monitor” describes parts of the group as homophobic and queerfeindlich, and the group’s founder, former professional John Bostock, has reportedly described abortion as “Satan’s plan.” Gay rights organizations, according to Bild, classify BiG as “Christian fundamentalists.”
Bild reports that the club’s fan and supporters’ department has publicly criticized club leadership and called for a clear distancing from the group, stating that religion must never be a “free pass for discrimination.” According to the report, Dortmund responded on Sunday that it would seek a conversation with the player, and has maintained that it respects “the religious and faith freedom of every individual” while expecting employees to follow legal requirements and the club’s core values.
Nmecha has so far commented only briefly, saying, “I am of course a Christian. I love all people.
I of course do not discriminate, or anything like that.” Bild says interview requests on the matter, including from its own publisher, have been declined or left unanswered. The report also notes the player’s market value is reported at 65 million euros and that the club’s annual members’ meeting is scheduled for November 22.
