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Taking selfies in the stadium could soon cost fans dear after German football giants Borussia Dortmund announced plans to reward those who leave their phones alone during matches.
Dortmund is offering signed jerseys and gift cards for club merchandise to fans who use an app that measures how often they unlock their phones at their stadium.
Claiming that “more and more fans are fed up with selfies, broadcasts and social media in the stands”, Dortmund supporters can volunteer to use “fan mode” on the club’s app from Saturday’s home game with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Fan mode will measure how often the phone is unlocked during gameplay (not including pause) and give people points for how little they use the device, with prizes awarded to those with the most points. Every time the phone is unlocked, the user loses points.
“More than 81,000 people in the stadium are singing, cheering and holding their breath together: it’s priceless here and now,” Dortmund CEO Carsten Cramer said in a statement on Thursday.
The rewards scheme and application is voluntary and there is no restriction on fans using their phones.
German football is especially famous for Dortmund’s large and noisy “Yellow Wall” permanent section.
The club’s stance is part of a backlash in German football against attempts to turn the stadium atmosphere into social media content, particularly by influencers using professional camera equipment.
Second division club Hertha Berlin said this month it was banning “commercially produced and monetized” video production from its games, while allowing fans to take photos and videos for personal use.
Another club, Dynamo Dresden, said in August it would ban social media advertising, saying it wanted to ensure fans felt comfortable at the game and protect the club’s television rights contracts.