Dortmund imposes social-media restrictions on Felix Nmecha over Charlie Kirk tributes

Borussia Dortmund has placed social media restrictions on forward Felix Nmecha after he posted condolences for Charlie Kirk, the American far-right political pundit who was shot and killed Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. The club told Nmecha that future posts must be pre-approved by its communications team to avoid messaging that could spark unrest within the club and fanbase.

Nmecha published two Instagram stories honoring Kirk. The first showed an image of Kirk with the caption, 'Rest in peace with the Lord. Such as [sic] sad day, may the Lord comfort the Kirk family & the body of Christ in this time.' The second read, 'Jesus is the way, the truth and the life!!! To celebrate the assassination of a father of two, a husband and a man who stands for his beliefs and values peacefully is truly evil and shows how much more we're in need of Christ. May God have mercy and open our eyes and hearts in Jesus name.'

German outlet Bild reported that Dortmund executives held a meeting with managing director Lars Ricken and sporting director Sebastian Kehl. The club said it supports freedom of expression, but noted the reactions to Nmecha's posts were creating unrest within the club and among supporters, prompting the pre-approval policy.

Under the new approach, Nmecha must inform the club of any posts in advance, and Dortmund's social media team will review and advise on any potential pushback before publication.

Felix Nmecha's signing for Dortmund in 2023 was itself controversial after the club's recruitment drew scrutiny over past social media posts. Reports cited by Bild described earlier content that some described as homophobic or anti-queer, including reposts mocking the father of a transgender child and, later, a post that equated Pride Month with Satanic worship. Dortmund president Reinhold Lunow and longtime executive Hans-Joachim Watzke defended the player, saying he had been fully engaged in talks to align with the club's values. Still, the deal faced fan protests before it was completed.

Since arriving in 2023, Nmecha has made about 75 appearances for Dortmund and scored ten goals in all competitions, according to club records.

Daily Mail Sport said it sought comment from Dortmund on the matter. A club spokesperson had not immediately responded.