Dortmund fans protest against club's Rheinmetall sponsorship deal

Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga club from the Ruhr region, drew criticism from parts of its fanbase after it entered a sponsorship partnership with Rheinmetall, the Düsseldorf-based German defence and arms company.

In early September 2024, supporters made their displeasure visible inside the stadium. Fans held up banners and voiced criticism during matches, arguing that a football club with a strong tradition of social engagement should not be associated with an arms manufacturer. Dortmund's active fan scene, especially the standing-room terrace known as the Südtribüne, has a history of speaking out on club decisions.

The club defended the partnership, pointing to the importance of security and defence policy in Germany after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Critics, however, said the deal clashed with the club's values and image.

The protests mattered because they turned a commercial agreement into a lasting public debate about ethics in football sponsorship, and they set the stage for the pressure that later led the club to reconsider the arrangement.