Klopp Says Nmecha Will Drop Crown Celebration After Dortmund Fan Backlash

By admin — In News — November 13, 2026

   ​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 ValuesJurgen 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 StartedNmecha, 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 SaysFormer 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