Mark Bellingham, father of Jobe and Jude Bellingham, found himself at the centre of post-match controversy after confronting Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl in the tunnel following their 3-3 draw with St Pauli.
According to German reports, Mark and his wife Denise were granted access to the players’ area at the Millerntor-Stadion on Saturday evening.
Once inside, the 49-year-old voiced his displeasure over Dortmund’s handling of his younger son’s Bundesliga debut.
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Jobe, who joined the club this summer from Sunderland, was taken off at half-time with Dortmund leading 1-0, a decision his father openly questioned.
Jobe Bellingham was hooked at half time during Borussia Dortmund's draw with St Pauli
|REUTERS
Mark is also said to have criticised Dortmund’s cautious approach in the match, which ended in frustration as the Bundesliga giants surrendered a 3-1 lead in the closing minutes after Filippo Mané’s dismissal reduced them to ten men.
Two late St Pauli goals condemned Dortmund to a disappointing draw in their season opener.
While Kehl did not directly reference the incident, his post-match comments strongly suggested Dortmund were unhappy with the intrusion.
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“We are all disappointed with yesterday’s result,” Kehl said.
“And yet, the active area is and remains reserved for players, coaches and management, not families and advisers. That won’t happen again.
"We have clearly informed everyone involved of this.”
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Mark Bellingham, father of Jobe and Jude Bellingham, found himself at the centre of post-match controversy after confronting Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl in the tunnel following their 3-3 draw with St Pauli
|GETTY
The statement effectively reaffirmed Dortmund’s policy barring parents and agents from sensitive areas such as the dressing rooms and tunnel.
Club insiders were said to be irritated by the episode, even if occasional appearances by relatives in the tunnel are not unheard of in German football.
Mark, a former non-league striker and retired West Midlands Police sergeant, has long been heavily involved in the careers of his two sons.
Dortmund are no strangers to him either: he was a prominent presence during Jude Bellingham’s three seasons at the club between 2020 and 2023, before the England star completed his £89million switch to Real Madrid.
Jobe, 19, became Dortmund’s latest big-money English recruit this summer in a £26m move after helping Sunderland reach the EFL Championship play-off final.
He had already featured for the German club during the Club World Cup in the United States but Saturday marked his first Bundesliga outing.
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Despite the heated scenes, Dortmund’s focus now turns to regaining momentum after the St Pauli collapse.
They face Union Berlin in their second Bundesliga match on Sunday (4.30pm).
Bayern Munich currently top of the table after thumping RB Leipzig 6-0 in their opening match on Friday, with Harry Kane netting a sensational hat-trick for Vincent Kompany's side.