Borussia Dortmund restricts Felix Nmecha’s social media after Charlie Kirk posts

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 during an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

Nmecha shared two Instagram stories regarding Kirk. The first showed an image of Kirk with the caption, "Rest in peace with the Lord. Such a sad day, may the Lord comfort the Kirk family and the body of Christ in this time." He followed with a second post, writing, "Jesus is the way, the truth and the life!!!" and adding, "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."

According to German outlet Bild, Dortmund held a meeting with managing director Lars Ricken and sporting director Sebastian Kehl to address the posts. The club reportedly told Nmecha that while it supports freedom of expression, the reaction to his messages had stirred unrest within the club. As a result, Nmecha was informed that, going forward, he must inform the club of any posts he plans to make; the club’s social media team will review messages in advance and advise on potential pushback. Daily Mail Sport has contacted Dortmund for comment on the matter.

Nmecha, 24, joined Dortmund in the summer of 2023 from Wolfsburg on a five-year contract after coming through Manchester City’s academy, where he made three first-team appearances from 2018 to 2021. Since signing with Dortmund, he has made 75 appearances in all competitions and scored ten goals. His arrival in 2023 was divisive among supporters, in part due to several past posts that many fans perceived as homophobic or anti-queer. The club’s leadership publicly acknowledged the debate around the signing but stressed they were convinced he did not hold transphobic or homophobic beliefs.

The controversy surrounding Nmecha’s social media history has been well documented. In February 2023, he reposted a video from American right-wing commentator Matt Walsh that mocked the father of a transgender child; Nmecha said later that he did not agree with all of Walsh’s messaging or how he frames issues, but he did not apologize for the post. Months later, around Pride Month, he shared another post from a fundamentalist Christian account that equated LGBTQ+ Pride with satanic worship. German football journalist Raphael Honigstein, writing for The Athletic at the time, cited Dortmund’s then-president Reinhold Lunow as saying he had serious concerns about Nmecha’s social media, though Lunow and longtime Dortmund executive Hans-Joachim Watzke ultimately stated that Nmecha had reassured the club and that they proceeded with the signing after a lengthy discussion. Fans protested the deal before it was completed, with banners outside the Westfalenstadion and internal debates within the club about whether to pursue the transfer.

Since joining Dortmund in 2023, Nmecha has continued to be a central figure in a club that blends sporting ambition with complex public perception. Dortmund’s decision to require pre-approval for his posts illustrates how even high-profile players are increasingly subject to club-led social media oversight, a trend that has gained momentum as clubs seek to manage image and sponsor relationships in the social-media era. The club did not publicly detail further changes to Nmecha’s duties beyond the review process, and it remains to be seen how this policy will be implemented in practice.

World sports and political developments intersecting in Germany and the United States have kept the conversation around Nmecha’s posts in the spotlight, with supporters, critics, and media evaluating the balance between personal expression and club responsibility. The Dortmund leadership emphasized that the policy is intended as a preventative measure to avoid internal discord and public backlash while allowing the player to express himself within agreed boundaries. Whether this approach will influence other clubs facing similar situations remains uncertain, as teams weigh the value of free expression against collective team cohesion and brand management.