Tunnel clash at Dortmund: Jobe Bellingham's parents stir drama

By SABC Sport
25th August 2025

Borussia Dortmund's 3-3 draw against St. Pauli was overshadowed by a heated confrontation involving Jobe Bellingham's parents, who challenged officials after his half-time substitution.

The Black and Yellows have now pledged stricter dressing room access.

Reports detailed how Mark Bellingham, father and advisor to Jobe and his brother Jude, engaged in an emotional exchange with Dortmund's sporting director Sebastian Kehl in the player tunnel at Hamburg's Millerntor-Stadion.

The confrontation stemmed from Jobe's withdrawal after a lackluster first half, a decision by head coach Niko Kovac as Dortmund led 3-1. The team later squandered their lead, conceding two late goals after Filippo Mane's red card left them with ten men.

Lars Ricken, Dortmund's managing director for sport, addressed the incident, highlighting the club's close ties with the Bellingham family. "We built a relationship of trust with Jobe's parents over the years," Ricken told Sky Germany. "They flew in for his Bundesliga debut and wanted to see him after the match. They spoke emotionally with Sebastian in the hallway, which, given our bond, is no issue."

However, Ricken stressed that such incidents would not be repeated. "We'll ensure only players, coaches, and officials access the locker room area in the future," he added. "Everything is resolved now, no drama."

Sebastian Kehl reinforced this stance, emphasizing professionalism. "The team area is for players, coaches, and management, not families or advisors," Kehl told Bild. "This won't happen again. We've made that clear."

Jobe, the 19-year-old England U21 international, joined Dortmund from Sunderland for 27.8 million pounds this summer, following his brother Jude's path after his 100 million euros move to Real Madrid in 2023.

Jobe's debut ended after 45 minutes, with Kovac later criticizing the team's focus. "We weren't sharp for 90 minutes," Kovac said. "We didn't deserve more than a point."

Dortmund have moved to defuse the situation, with Ricken's comments signaling a focus on football. As the Black and Yellows gear up for upcoming matches, they'll aim to harness this passion on the pitch, prioritizing Jobe's integration into the squad.