Borussia Dortmund Bans Players’ Families From Dressing Room After Jobe Bellingham Incident
Borussia Dortmund has moved to enforce stricter boundaries in its dressing room after a heated confrontation involving the father of new signing Jobe Bellingham.
The club announced that families and agents will no longer be allowed in the players’ area following the clash.
The controversy erupted after Dortmund’s opening Bundesliga match against St. Pauli, which ended in a frustrating 3–3 draw.
Jobe Bellingham, who joined the club this summer from Sunderland in a deal worth up to £32 million, was substituted at halftime despite his side leading 1–0. His father, Mark Bellingham, was visibly upset and reportedly confronted sporting director Sebastian Kehl in the tunnel, demanding explanations for the decision.
Witnesses described the exchange as emotional and tense.
The incident, coupled with Dortmund’s late collapse on the pitch, prompted swift action from the club’s leadership. Managing Director Lars Ricken confirmed that while the matter with the Bellingham family had been settled, new rules would ensure such situations do not happen again. “In the future, we will make sure that only players, coaches, and officials enter the dressing room area.
That won’t be open to families or advisors,” Ricken said.
Sporting director Kehl echoed the sentiment, stressing the need to protect the team’s professional environment.
“The team area is for players and staff. That is where we prepare, that is where we work. It is not a space for relatives, no matter the circumstances,” he stated.
The Bellingham family has had a long-standing relationship with Dortmund, as Jobe’s elder brother, Jude Bellingham, rose to stardom at the club before moving to Real Madrid in 2023. While that connection gave the family unusual access, the club’s leadership has now drawn a line, signaling that no exceptions will be made moving forward.
The new policy highlights the fine balance between family support and professional discipline in elite football. Dortmund, under pressure to improve after narrowly missing out on the Bundesliga title in recent seasons, views this as a necessary step to maintain focus and authority within the squad.
