Nmecha defends controversial goal celebration after criticism

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha has defended his controversial goal celebration and said he doesn't want to exclude anyone with his religious belief. "With my celebration, I don't want to put myself or any organization in the foreground. Rather, it's about putting down my "crown" in front of the soon-to-come king and point out to Jesus, my hope and my strength," Nmecha said on Instagram. "My message was never focused on promoting intolerance, discrimination or hatred in any form." Nmecha's recurring goal celebration, in which he takes an imaginary crown from his head and places it on the pitch in front of him while kneeling, has been criticized by Dortmund's fan department. "Faith does not justify exclusion. Faith does not justify division. And faith should also not be misused to fail to recognize the diversity of the society in which we live," the Dortmund fan department, an official section of the club's hierarchy, said in a statement on Sunday. "It is not about condemning a person for their faith. Our criticism is directed at religious networks that spread a worldview under the cloak of faith in which people are devalued or excluded because of their sexual orientation, their gender identity, their way of life or their personal choices." The club has announced talks with the player and according to broadcasters WDR, citing Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke, Nmecha is to refrain from celebrating the goal in that manner in the future. Furthermore, BVB intends to contact the Ballers in God group to stop prominently advertising with the player. Ballers in God is a network of Christian footballers founded in 2015 that records and shares many such celebrations on social media. Nmecha has previously been criticized for religious content on social media, which has been deemed homophobic. He has rejected these accusations.