Dortmund to reward football supporters who don’t use phone during matches

Borussia Dortmund is offering fans a novel incentive to keep their eyes on the pitch: prizes for leaving their phones alone during matches.

The German club said on Thursday that supporters who volunteer for a "fan mode" feature in the club's app can earn points based on how rarely they unlock their phones during the game, excluding the halftime break. Each unlock costs points, and fans with the highest totals will be in line for signed jerseys and gift cards for club merchandise.

The scheme, which begins with Saturday's home match against Eintracht Frankfurt, is entirely voluntary, and the club stressed there is no ban on using phones in the stadium.

Dortmund says the move responds to growing irritation among matchgoers. "More and more fans are annoyed by selfies, streaming, and social media in the stands," the club said, adding that more than 81,000 supporters packed into the stadium — including the famous "Yellow Wall" standing section — "singing, cheering, and holding their breath together" is irreplaceable, in the words of CEO Carsten Cramer.

The initiative is part of a broader pushback in German football against stadium culture being turned into online content, particularly by influencers using professional camera equipment. Earlier this month, second-division Hertha Berlin banned "commercially produced and monetised" video filming at its games while still allowing personal photos and videos, and Dynamo Dresden announced a similar restriction in August, citing fan comfort and the protection of television rights.