Borussia Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke has asked midfielder Felix Nmecha to stop the second part of his goal celebration, in which the Germany international kneels and lays an imaginary crown on the pitch before Jesus. Watzke, a practising Catholic, said he is not seeking to ban prayer or thanksgiving to God, but that the crown gesture is dividing supporters and is linked to an evangelical players’ network whose values, he said, are “not completely compatible” with those of the club.

Nmecha scored both goals in Dortmund’s 2-1 Bundesliga win over SV Elversberg on 7 November and repeated the celebration after each. On Instagram he said he did not intend to promote himself or any organisation. “Rather, it is about laying my ‘crown’ before the soon coming King and pointing to Jesus, my hope and strength.”

What Nmecha says the gesture means

The celebration has been linked to “The King’s Return,” a campaign associated with the Christian footballers’ network Ballers in God. Nmecha used a similar celebration after scoring for Germany at the 2026 World Cup.

“My message has never been about promoting intolerance, discrimination, or hate in any form,” he wrote. “As Christians, our message is one of love and respect for everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they believe, or what their worldview may be.”

The club, the fans and Watzke’s request

On 8 November, Dortmund’s official fan and support department said it was not condemning Nmecha for his faith, but criticised religious networks that, “under the cloak of faith,” spread a worldview in which people are excluded because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or personal decisions. “Faith does not justify exclusion. Faith does not justify division,” it said.

German media, citing research by ARD’s Monitor programme, have reported that parts of Ballers in God hold views hostile to gay and transgender people. The network has said it wants to “demonstrate love and respect towards everyone.” Jesus Social has not independently reviewed the Monitor report. Nmecha has rejected any suggestion that his own message promotes hatred. The club told Bild it expected players to uphold its values, including respect, diversity and a clear rejection of discrimination, and said Nmecha had always behaved respectfully and gave no cause for doubt.

Watzke said in a 12 November podcast interview that he and Nmecha had a very good relationship and had held an hour-long video call while the player was with the Germany squad. “As a practising Catholic, I am also the last person who would want to forbid someone from praying. That is not what this is about at all,” he said. “If he scores a goal and points his index fingers towards the sky, everyone knows that he wants to thank God.” The crown gesture, he said, was “somewhat associated with ‘Ballers in God’.” “Borussia Dortmund’s core values and Ballers in God’s basic principles aren’t compatible,” he added. “We don’t want that in our living room.”

He told Nmecha: “Felix, if you feel that it is dividing the fans, perhaps you might also come to the realisation that you should stop doing it because it is causing division.” The player, Watzke said, wanted to think about it.

Klopp says it will not be repeated

Germany coach Jürgen Klopp, speaking before the national team’s Nations League match in Serbia on 13 November, said he had also spoken to Nmecha. Nmecha had told him that he loves all people and does not discriminate against anyone. “For me the most important issue was settled,” Klopp said. “Then I said, ‘how do we do it with the goal celebration?’ He will not be celebrating like that.” Whether he has agreed the same with Dortmund is not yet publicly clear.

Why it matters

Watzke has spoken warmly of Nmecha and has distinguished ordinary Christian gestures — pointing to heaven, the sign of the cross, and prayer — from a celebration that some supporters link to a controversial network. For many Christians, Nmecha’s explanation is simple: he is laying his “crown” before Christ, his hope and his strength.

As reported by n-tv, Deutsche Welle, dpa, Bild and other sources listed below. Compiled and edited by the Jesus Social newsroom.

Sources

Photo credit: YantsImages, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.