Nmecha and Ballers in God respond to Dortmund fans’ criticism

Felix Nmecha and Christian football network Ballers in God have responded after Borussia Dortmund supporters criticised the midfielder's goal celebration, BBC Sport reported. The dispute concerns the campaign The King's Return and whether the messages associated with it conflict with the club's commitment to inclusion.

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Nmecha scored twice in Dortmund's 2-1 victory over Elversberg on Saturday. According to the BBC, he celebrated by pointing upwards before acting out removing a crown and setting it down. He said the gesture had been misunderstood and was not intended to advertise either himself or an organisation.

In its published statement, Dortmund's fan and support department distinguished its objections from criticism of religious belief. It said Nmecha's Christianity was not the issue and affirmed people's right to practise and publicly express their faith. Its concern, it said, was the exclusion of people because of their sexuality, gender identity or personal choices.

The department cited reporting by ARD's MONITOR and Sportschau about the network behind the campaign. It said that investigation described anti-gay and anti-transgender positions, alongside messages condemning abortion, in the associated religious environment. These were the supporters' stated grounds for objecting to the campaign, rather than a complaint about Nmecha's performances on the pitch.

The supporters also stressed the influence professional players have over young audiences. Their statement said footballers' reach made the promotion of exclusionary messages a public concern, not simply a matter of private belief. It reaffirmed LGBTQ+ fans' place at Dortmund and said the department had held several discussions on the subject in recent months.

Nmecha rejected intolerance and discrimination in his response, the BBC reported. Ballers in God said it supported footballers expressing their Christian faith and wanted to treat everyone respectfully, including people who did not share its beliefs. Former Crystal Palace and Tottenham midfielder John Bostock founded the organisation.

On its own website, Ballers in God describes its professional network as a player-led international community for footballers and their partners. It lists online meetings, small-group activity, prayer and religious guidance among its services, with an emphasis on supporting families throughout players' careers and lives.