Top German footballer Kevin Behrens has sparked controversy after refusing to sign a rainbow jersey promoting diversity during a charity signing session in September.
According to Bild, the 33-year-old Wolfsburg forward not only declined to autograph the shirt but also made a homophobic remark, allegedly saying, “I won’t sign that kind of gay s***.” Though he later signed the jersey, his initial actions have drawn widespread criticism.
The rainbow-themed kit, featuring club logos and numbers in rainbow colors, was introduced five years ago to show Wolfsburg’s support for diversity. Behrens has since issued a public apology, telling Bild, “My spontaneous comments were absolutely not OK. I apologize for that. The matter has been addressed internally, and I prefer not to comment further.”
Wolfsburg’s sporting director, Marcel Schäfer, confirmed Behrens’ suspension, stating, “Homophobia has no place here. Kevin is now home alone.” The club emphasized its commitment to social responsibility, diversity, and tolerance, adding that the incident was promptly dealt with internally.
This is not the first time Wolfsburg has faced LGBTQ+ controversies. In 2023, midfielder Felix Nmecha, now at Borussia Dortmund, was accused of making transphobic remarks on social media.