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

Meanwhile, a stadium selfie could shortly be to a fan's detriment at German football giant Borussia Dortmund after the club unveiled intends to reward those who leave their phones alone during the game.

Key points

• German football is famed for its vocal fanbase, especially Dortmund's vast and loud "Yellow Wall" standing section.
• The rewards scheme and app are voluntary, and there's no ban on fans using their phones.
• Dortmund is offering signed jerseys and gift cards for club merchandise to fans who employ an app which measures how often they unlock their phones at its stadium.
• Each time the phone is unlocked, the user loses points.

Arguing that "more and more fans are annoyed by selfies, streaming, and social media in the stands, " Dortmund notes supporters can volunteer to apply 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 individuals based on how little they apply 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 remarked in an official note late on Thursday.

Notably, the rewards scheme and app are voluntary, and there's no ban on fans using their phones.

Notably, the club's stance is part of a backlash in German football against attempts to turn its stadium atmosphere into social media content, especially by influencers using professional camera equipment.

While allowing fans to take photos and videos for personal apply, second-division club Hertha Berlin remarked this month it was banning "commercially produced and monetised" video productions from its games.

Another club, Dynamo Dresden, remarked 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.

Taken together, the developments around dortmund to reward football supporters who don't use phone during matches point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.