Lent.az
Lars Ricken, managing director of Borussia Dortmund, commented on the incident involving Mark Bellingham, the father of Joe Bellingham, who was unhappy with his son's substitution in the first round of the German championship against St. Pauli (3:3).
Lent.az reports that Ricken said he did not participate in the conversation. He also reminded that further scandals will not be allowed in the future:
"We signed Joe Bellingham because we have had trusting relationships with his parents for many years. The family came specifically from England for their son's first Bundesliga game and wanted to see Joe on the bus after the game. Then they stood at the entrance to the locker room and had an emotional conversation with the club's sporting director, Sebastian Kell, which is no problem given their relationship. Everything has been clarified today."
Ricken added that in the future, only players, coaches and officials will be allowed into the team's locker room. Parents of football players will not be allowed entry.
At the end of the game, the 19-year-old footballer's family went down to the tunnel area of the stadium, where an emotional conversation took place between Mark Bellingham and Borussia's sporting director, Kell. The midfielder's father expressed his dissatisfaction with Dortmund's game and Joe Bellingham's substitution after the first half.
Joe Bellingham joined Borussia in June 2025 and signed a contract with the club until the summer of 2030. Before him, his brother Jude wore the yellow and black uniform, but in 2023 he transferred to Real Madrid.
