DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — A stadium selfie could soon cost fans of German soccer giant Borussia Dortmund after the club announced plans to reward those who leave their phones alone during the game.
Dortmund is offering signed jerseys and gift cards for club merchandise to fans who use an app which measures how often they unlock their phones at its stadium.
Arguing that “more and more fans are annoyed by selfies, streaming, and social media in the stands,” Dortmund says supporters can volunteer to use a “fan mode” in the club's app, starting Saturday with a home game against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Fan mode will measure how often the phone is unlocked during the game — not counting the halftime break — and award points to people based on how little they use the device, with prizes on offer for those with the most points. Each time the phone is unlocked, the user loses points.
“Over 81,000 people in the stadium, singing, cheering, and holding their breath together: this here and now is irreplaceable,” Dortmund CEO Carsten Cramer said in a statement Thursday.
The rewards scheme and app are voluntary and there's no ban on fans using their phones.
German soccer is famed for its vocal fanbase, especially Dortmund's vast and loud “Yellow Wall” standing section.
The club's stance is part of a backlash in German soccer against attempts to turn its stadium atmosphere into social media content, especially by influencers using professional camera equipment.
Second-division club Hertha Berlin said this month it was banning “commercially produced and monetized” video productions from its games, while allowing fans to take photos and videos for personal use.
Another club, Dynamo Dresden, said in August it would ban commercial filming for social media, saying it wanted to ensure fans felt comfortable at the game and to protect the club's TV rights deals.
Fans are being encouraged to put their phones away, but Dortmund's players will be left to their own devices, coach Niko Kovac said Friday.
Kovac said he already bans phones from a pregame meal the team spends together, but he doesn't mind players using phones or wearing headphones in the locker room or the team bus.
“The guys are grown up enough to work out what they need to get ready for the game,” Kovac said.
Even so, “I think we could all spend a little less time looking at our phones now and then,” Kovac said. “If we cut back on it we can all concentrate a bit more on other things.”
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Borussia's fans cheer during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Sabah FK and Borussia Dortmund in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo)
Borussia Dortmund's fans hold up their team scarfs prior to the start of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
It’s been a rough start for some high-profile offensive coordinators with new teams.
Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was supposed to help elevate Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers, bringing his innovative ideas to the West Coast. Instead, the Chargers are 0-6 because the offense has been terrible and Herbert has regressed significantly.
Former Giants coach Brian Daboll was expected to develop Cam Ward the way he helped Josh Allen in Buffalo. But the Tennessee Titans have the worst offense in the league and Ward has been inconsistent.
The New York Jets are 25th in yards and 27th in scoring in former Colts coach Frank Reich’s offense.
Several more of the 21 new offensive coordinators this season are also having a difficult time over the first six weeks.
Davis Webb already lost play-calling duties in Denver as Broncos coach Sean Payton reclaimed that job less than a month into the season.
Jalen Hurts was off to a slow start in Sean Mannion’s offense before he was sidelined because of blood clots.
Sam Darnold has taken a step backward under Brian Fleury after leading the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl last season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been dismal on offense in Zac Robinson’s system. Baker Mayfield was out of sync in three games before he injured his thumb and undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels didn’t fare much better.
McDaniel brought a fast-paced offense that features an outside-zone run scheme, rhythm-based passing structures and heavy pre-snap motion. Herbert, a two-time Pro Bowl QB with elite physical skills, hasn’t mastered it. He has thrown eight interceptions and his 68.8 passer rating is almost 25 points lower than his career-low. A depleted offensive line hasn’t helped.
Now the question is how long will coach Jim Harbaugh stick with McDaniel.
“We’re looking into everything at this point, and that process is ongoing-particularly offensively, scoring more points,” Harbaugh said before the team entered its bye this week.
McDaniel expressed confidence in getting the offense on track before the unit produced just two field goals and 259 total yards in a 22-6 loss to Kansas City last Sunday.
“I will be doing my very best because from an integrity standpoint I think it’s really insulting to do anything else,” he said. “That won’t change. I would be so embarrassed if I told you, ‘well now I’m going to try harder.’ Like what? What have you been doing? I’m confident in the players that we have. I think that the improvement that I see before the results generally lead to good things. But talk is cheap. We got to do.”
They’re not getting the job done in Los Angeles.
Daboll was instrumental in Allen’s growth during his time as offensive coordinator with the Bills. He was AP NFL Coach of the Year in his first season with the New York Giants in 2022 and won a playoff game with Daniel Jones. But Daboll was 11-33 over the next 2 1/2 seasons.
Titans coach Robert Saleh brought Daboll to Tennessee to work with Ward, hoping he could maximize the 2025 No. 1-overall pick’s talent. Daboll’s passing scheme relies on concepts and focuses on quick, high-percentage throws, and includes heavy run-pass options.
Ward hasn’t figured it out yet. He has just four TDs, four picks and a 75.0 passer rating.
“I think the biggest thing is, particularly when you’re a young guy and you’re seeing so many things, you’re in a new system and there’s a lot of growing to do,” Daboll said Thursday. “Obviously, the results have not shown. We’re good with the direction we’re headed, but we’re not good with the results we’re getting.”
New offensive coordinators bring new systems, new schemes, new verbiage and terminology. It takes time for most quarterbacks and their coordinators to get in rhythm. For some, things click right away.
Drew Petzing’s offense in Detroit leads the NFL in scoring (32.8 points per game) and is fourth in total yards (393.8). He has plenty of talent led by Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Eric Bieniemy's return to Kansas City has helped spark the Chiefs. Andy Reid calls plays but Bieniemy’s presence is valuable for the offense.
“He’s not going to let you slack off at all in anything,” running back Kenneth Walker III said. “You feel like you could do the play 100% correct and he’ll still have something to say. Having that is good because you’ve got no room to be satisfied. Everybody knows what to expect and he’s going to make sure we play for the team and not for ourselves.”
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, left, is seen on the field with running back Omarion Hampton prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
