Borussia Dortmund Cracks Down: Ban on Family in Dressing Room and Beefed-Up Fining System

Muhe - Wednesday, 27 August 2025 | 05:00 PM (WIB)

Borussia Dortmund began the 2025/2026 season by enforcing a series of new regulations aimed at emphasizing the club's commitment to professionalism and discipline. These include a prohibition of players' family members from entering the dressing room, and a more robust system of discipline with fines for each violation, no matter how small.

Ban on Family in Dressing Room

The family member dressing room ban was born after an incident during the Bundesliga season opener. Jobe Bellingham's father reportedly tried to barge into the dressing room to protest the coach's decision. Dortmund management had to take swift action after the incident.Managing Director Lars Ricken explained that the dressing room is a sanctum sanctorum where only players, coaches, and official staff are allowed. The intention is to maintain a professional atmosphere and avoid external intrusions that could divert the team's attention."The dressing room is a workplace and not a living room. We would like to have the atmosphere there focused, private, and professional," Ricken said.This move had its mixed reactions, but most pundits felt Dortmund was right. With the sheer pressure of the Bundesliga and Champions League, the club needed to have a clear distinction between professional and personal matters.

Maintaining Professionalism

Dortmund's actions are a reflection of the club's ambition to maintain the highest levels of professionalism. As one of the biggest clubs in Germany and Europe, Dortmund recognizes that a team's success is not only a function of the standard of play on the pitch, but also of sound internal management.With these new rules, Dortmund wants to ensure that the players remain focused, fulfill their commitments, and maintain a professional demeanor on and off the pitch.Borussia Dortmund is turning into a more disciplined professional side. The ban on family members in the dressing room and the fine system for indiscipline are indicators that the club is taking measures to ensure there is the right atmosphere. While seeming harsh, these rules could be an essential foundation for Dortmund to guarantee team stability in a campaign where they have suffered setbacks.If implemented consistently, these policies will not only bring order but also instill a professional culture that will allow Dortmund to challenge for the Bundesliga title and at European level.