Klopp Says Nmecha Will Drop Crown Celebration After Dortmund Fan Backlash

• Germany manager Jurgen Klopp says midfielder Felix Nmecha will not repeat his crown goal celebration after opposition from supporters, per Daily Mail Sport.
• Nmecha told Klopp that the gesture had nothing to do with discrimination, and Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke says the only question under discussion is the second part of the celebration.
• German outlets found that the campaign website for the celebration linked to a chat service where counsellors shared anti-homosexual views, and Ballers in God, the network that popularised it, says it wants to show love and respect to everyone.

A Gesture Meant as Faith Became a Row Over Dortmund’s Values

Jurgen Klopp, who took the Germany job after the national team’s third World Cup failure, has confronted Felix Nmecha about the crown celebration that drew opposition from Borussia Dortmund supporters, and he says the answer he received settled the question that mattered most to him.

“I confronted him with all the things you might have confronted him with. He told me that it had nothing to do with that at all, and that he loves all people and does not discriminate against anyone.”

The celebration is a separate matter, and on that point Klopp says Nmecha will not do it again.

Where the Row Started

Nmecha, a Christian player, was criticised last weekend for scoring and then lowering an imaginary crown from his head onto the pitch. The celebration is called The King’s Return. An evangelical network of footballers called Ballers in God popularised it, and the network counts prominent Premier League players among its members. It is meant to represent submission to God.

German outlets then investigated. They found that the campaign website for The King’s Return linked to a chat service run by an organisation called Groundwire, where counsellors shared anti-homosexual views and described abortion as “Satan’s Plan”.

Klopp describes how the row unfolded:

“It was a big issue. I saw Felix score two great goals and saw the celebration and then the gesture. I thought nothing of it at the time. But then it all kicked off.”

“As the controversy escalated, I started looking into the details of the subject and trying to form a clear picture of it.”

“I have known Felix Nmecha for a few months, and I can say that he is a very friendly young man, who is warm and open, and always spreads positive energy when he is with us.”

Nmecha has maintained that his message was one of love. He said: “My message has never been about promoting intolerance, discrimination, or hate in any form.”

What Ballers in God Says

Former Tottenham midfielder John Bostock founded Ballers in God in 2015. It brings together a wide range of Christian players from across the pyramid and runs weekly sessions. The organisation does not hold an explicit stance on LGBTQ+ issues. Its Instagram account celebrated the end of the Rainbow Laces campaign in the Premier League last year.

In response to the Nmecha story, the network wrote:

“We are encouraged by player-led movements such as The King’s Return, where footballers themselves take the initiative to express their faith in Jesus.”

“Our desire is not only to share our hope, but to demonstrate love and respect towards everyone, including those who do not share our beliefs.”

“Our focus has always been, and will always be, to point people to Jesus with grace and love.”

The Club’s Position at Dortmund

Nmecha, 26, still faces scrutiny at Dortmund. A supporters’ group claimed that the celebration clashed with club values, and senior figures have reprimanded him. A vocal section of Dortmund fans had already opposed the club signing him from Wolfsburg in 2023, after he shared anti-homosexual and anti-transgender posts.

Watzke set out the club’s position.

“The fan department has every right to start a discussion like this. I was at their annual general meeting on Monday. It was clear that those who were bothered by parts of his celebration were in a significant majority. So you have to take it seriously and discuss it.”

“If he scores a goal and points his index fingers upwards, everyone knows he wants to thank God. He is also welcome to make the sign of the cross.”

“But placing the crown on the grass – that is, of course, somewhat linked to Ballers in God. I don’t even want to judge it. When I look at what they stand for, Borussia Dortmund’s code of core values and Ballers in God’s fundamental outlook are not entirely compatible. We don’t want that in our living room.”

“I told him: “Felix, if you sense that it is dividing the fans, perhaps you will also realise that you shouldn’t do it any more.” He wants to think about it. We had a wonderful conversation with him. We had a one-hour video call. That is where we are now, and he will think about it. I hope we can find a sensible solution.”

“I like Felix Nmecha very much. We have a very, very good relationship and speak frequently. As a practising Catholic, I am the last person who would want to forbid someone from praying. That is not what this is about at all. It is legitimate, too. The only question we are discussing with him is the second part of his celebration.”

What Happens Next

Nmecha scored in Klopp’s first game in charge, and the manager’s line on the crown is short.

“For me the most important issue was settled. Then I said “how do we do it with the goal celebration?” He will not be celebrating like that.”

Watzke said Nmecha wanted to think about it, while Klopp’s version is firmer. After the outcry in Germany, and talks with Klopp and national team sporting director Rudi Voller, Nmecha will not adopt the celebration again. Whether the crown stays off the Dortmund pitch is the question the club and its midfielder are still working through.