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Nmecha defends goal celebration criticised by Dortmund fans

Nmecha says the gesture was misunderstood. According to Bild, Dortmund and the DFB want to speak with him.

Golviva Newsroom

A Borussia Dortmund player kneels and gestures with both hands in front of a stadium advertising board.
A Borussia Dortmund player kneels and gestures with both hands in front of a stadium advertising board. · Photo: Der Spiegel

Felix Nmecha has defended the goal celebration he performed in Borussia Dortmund's 2-1 Bundesliga win over SV Elversberg on Saturday, after criticism from the club's fans. He scored in the 55th and 71st minutes, and Dortmund moved up to second with 21 points from nine games.

After his goals, Nmecha places an imaginary crown on the grass. Reports link the gesture to the 'The King's Return' campaign, tied to the evangelical network Ballers in God (BIG). Der Spiegel reports that the network presents homosexuality as a sin. The club's official supporters' group criticised the celebration at the weekend.

Nmecha says the gesture was misunderstood and is not meant to promote "intolerance, discrimination, or hate in any form". Sportschau reports that he says he does not want to exclude anyone through his faith.

According to Bild, as cited by L'Équipe, Dortmund and the German football federation now want to speak with him. Kicker reports that Jürgen Klopp is also set to raise the matter with him within the national team.

Sources

This article is based on reports by:

  • The Guardian — Felix Nmecha’s faith is forcing Borussia Dortmund into an uncomfortable debate
  • kicker — Klopp spricht mit Nmecha über umstrittenen Tor-Jubel
  • L'Équipe — Célébration associée à un mouvement évangélique, convoqué par Jürgen Klopp : Felix Nmecha dans la tourmente après un geste polémique
  • Sportschau — Nähe zu evangelikalen Netzwerken? Nmecha weist Kritik zurück
  • Mundo Deportivo — La afición del Dortmund critica a su jugador Nmecha por cómo celebra sus goles
  • Der Spiegel — Felix Nmecha: Dortmund-Profi äußert sich zu umstrittenen Torjubel
  • Foot Mercato — Une énorme polémique religieuse autour de Félix Nmecha prend de l’ampleur en Allemagne
  • TuttoMercatoWeb — Nmecha di nuovo nella bufera per un'esultanza: i tifosi del Borussia Dortmund lo attaccano

Written by the Golviva newsroom from the reports below, with figures from Golviva’s own database. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. · How we report