Borussia Dortmund will reward supporters who keep their phones out of use during matches, the German football club has announced. Fans who opt into a new app that tracks how often they unlock their phones at the stadium can win signed jerseys and gift cards for club merchandise.
The club said the move responds to fans who are tired of selfies, live streaming and social media activity in the stands. Supporters can volunteer to switch on a “fan mode” in the Dortmund app, which starts on Saturday with a home match against Eintracht Frankfurt.
How the fan mode app scores phone use
The feature counts phone unlocks during the game, leaving out the halftime break. Users earn points based on how rarely they touch their device, and each unlock costs them points. Those with the most points win prizes.
Taking part is optional, and the club is not banning phones from the stadium.
Club chief stresses atmosphere over screens
In a statement issued late on Thursday, Dortmund chief executive Carsten Cramer pointed to the more than 81,000 people in the stadium singing, cheering and holding their breath together. He described the moment as “irreplaceable.”
Wider German backlash against filmed stadium content
Dortmund’s stance is part of a wider pushback in German football against turning stadium atmosphere into social media content, particularly by influencers using professional camera equipment.
Second-division club Hertha Berlin said this month it would ban commercially produced and monetised video from its games, while still letting fans take photos and videos for personal use. Dynamo Dresden said in August it would prohibit commercial filming for social media, saying it wanted fans to feel comfortable at games and wanted to protect its TV rights deals.
