Felix Nmecha's celebration sparks controversy in Germany

Felix Nmecha's celebration has sparked widespread controversy in Germany after he used the 'crown' gesture following his two goals in Borussia Dortmund's 2-1 victory over Elversberg, amid increasing criticism due to the gesture's association with a controversial religious network known as 'Ballers in God.'

The celebration is linked to the "Return of the King" campaign by the evangelical network, which has faced accusations of some of its members adopting anti-LGBTQ+ positions and describing abortion as a "plan of the devil," according to media investigations, including an investigation by the "Monitor" program of ARD. Organizations concerned with LGBTQ+ rights classify this network among fundamentalist Christian movements.

Borussia Dortmund fans have expressed their discontent with a player's actions, directing strong criticism at him over the weekend, calling on the club's management to take a clear stance and distance itself from controversial evangelical networks.

In light of rising criticism, Jürgen Klopp plans to have a conversation with Felix Nmecha regarding the incident, while Rudi Völler, the sporting director of the German Football Association, addressed the crisis, confirming that the player will be discussed to understand the details of the case and handle it appropriately.

Füller said: "Of course, there is freedom of religion and belief, and everyone has the right to practice their faith in the way they see fit. Some accept it, and some do not like it, but we will talk to him again now that the issue has become a matter of public discussion. The most important thing is to understand the issue correctly and to follow the appropriate procedures to deal with it."

He added: "So far, I can only speak positively about Felix, as he has done a great job in the FIFA World Cup, not only as a football player but also through his behavior between matches. He is very popular among his teammates, and he is a really nice person, but I understand the ongoing controversy and realize that there are those who do not agree with this behavior."

He concluded his statements by saying: "We will handle the matter in a similar way to what Dortmund does, and we are in contact with the club, but the issue should not be exaggerated, and we will definitely talk to him."