Maccabi Haifa Captain Linked to Controversial Evangelical Group
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Maccabi Haifa captain Kangi Hoor is reportedly associated with the Ballers in God evangelical group, which has been linked to homophobic messages, similar to footballer Felix Nmecha. Hoor described Nmecha as a close friend and confirmed their shared participation in the group's Zoom meetings. The movement's campaign website has faced scrutiny for promoting anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion content. Nmecha's recent goal celebration, linked to the campaign, has renewed controversy, with Dortmund fans and the club emphasizing their commitment to diversity and equality.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Haifa captain Kangi Hoor is linked to the Ballers in God evangelical group.
- The group has been criticized for homophobic and anti-abortion messages.
- Felix Nmecha is also associated with the group and faced prior controversy.
- Hoor confirmed his close friendship with Nmecha and their shared group participation.
- Dortmund fans and the club have condemned the promotion of discriminatory views.
Kangi Hoor, captain of Israeli football club Maccabi Haifa, has been revealed to be associated with the same international Christian evangelical organization linked to homophobic views as fellow footballer Felix Nmecha. Hoor confirmed his connection to Nmecha and the group, named Ballers in God, in a recent interview. He described Nmecha as a close friend and like a brother, with whom he grew up in Manchester and with whom he participates in a Christian Zoom meeting.
The Ballers in God movement has faced criticism following a German investigation that exposed homophobic messages on its campaign website, "The King's Return." The site directed users to an American Christian counseling service that reportedly presented lesbianism as a sin and promoted anti-abortion messages. Founded in 2015 by footballer John Bostock, the movement aims to spread Christian faith through football and organizes prayer meetings for professional players.
Felix Nmecha's recent goal celebration, which involved removing an imaginary crown and placing it on the ground, was identified as a gesture associated with "The King's Return" campaign. This celebration reignited controversy surrounding his ties to the movement, which had previously drawn protests from fans when he joined Dortmund in 2023 due to social media content accused of homophobia and transphobia. Nmecha had previously stated that his words were taken out of context and that he loves everyone and does not discriminate.
Following Nmecha's celebration, the fan and supporter department of Dortmund issued a strong statement against his support for the campaign, emphasizing that the criticism targets the promotion of views that devalue or exclude individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or lifestyle. The department also warned against exploiting the influence of footballers to promote such messages to children and adolescents. Dortmund clarified that they expect all club employees to uphold values of respect, equality, and diversity and to reject all forms of discrimination.
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