DFB: Felix Nmecha wants to refrain from crown celebrations after speaking to Jürgen Klopp

National soccer player Felix Nmecha will forego his controversial “crown” celebration, at least in the German national soccer team. This is the result of a conversation with national coach Jürgen Klopp. »He said that he loves everyone and doesn't discredit anyone. This clears up the most important part for me. He doesn't want to cheer like that anymore," said Klopp before the Nations League game on Friday (8.45 p.m./RTL; live ticker: SPIEGEL.de) against Serbia in Belgrade.

Nmecha recently demonstrated his connection to Jesus and God with the controversial celebration in which he placed an imaginary crown in front of him at the BVB game against Elversberg. The gesture is associated with the “The King’s Return” campaign, which is used by the evangelical network “Ballers in God”.

It has been criticized for homophobic and anti-queer statements made by its members, including Nmecha. According to research by the ARD magazine “Monitor,” in this environment homosexuality, for example, was portrayed as a “sin” and abortion as “Satan’s plan.” The Dortmund fan and support department demanded a clear demarcation of Nmecha from the network.

Nmecha is also a big topic at the DFB, as Klopp admitted in Belgrade. »I watched football last weekend, saw two wonderful goals from Felix Nmecha and first the celebration and then the gesture. And I thought absolutely nothing of it," said Klopp at the press conference, looking back on Nmecha's goals against Elversberg.

“How do we do the goal celebration?” Klopp said he asked the player in a conversation. Because this is interpreted “outside in a certain way”. "He doesn't want that and that's why he won't cheer like that anymore."

Klopp said about Nmecha: "I've known Felix for a few months, an exceptionally friendly, warm, open young man who exudes nothing but good vibes."

But he confronted him “with everything that some people outside think – not me.” And Nmecha assured him that he loves everyone and doesn't discriminate against anyone: "That clears up the most important part for me."

Borussia Dortmund club boss Hans-Joachim Watzke had previously suggested that the midfielder refrain from part of his celebration gesture in the future.

Nmecha has already been criticized in the past for evangelical content on social networks that was deemed homophobic or anti-queer. Among other things, Nmecha had distributed a picture on Instagram in which the word “Pride” was associated with the devil. Nmecha repeatedly defended itself against accusations of discrimination.

Nmecha's behavior had already been the subject of controversy at the World Cup in the summer. After his goal in the DFB team's 7-1 win against Curaçao, he celebrated with the crown gesture and prayed with opposing players and his teammate Jonathan Tah on the pitch after the game. Read more about Nmecha here, who sees football as an opportunity to praise the Lord.