Social media dig: Union Berlin take aim at BVB captain Can | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund wins convincingly against Union Berlin with a 3-0 score, but after the final whistle, the victory is not the only focus. A controversial social media post by the Berlin team against BVB captain Emre Can sparks plenty of discussions.

The clear 3-0 away victory of Borussia Dortmund at Union Berlin quickly became a side issue after the final whistle. Instead, heated scenes on the pitch—and a social media action by the Berlin team—provided plenty of fuel for controversy. At the center: BVB captain Emre Can.

Already during the second half, the mood against the Dortmund midfielder had noticeably heated up. After a foul on Ilic, a scuffle ensued because Can refused to release the ball and pushed Jannik Haberer to the ground. Referee Christian Hartmann showed a yellow card. Shortly thereafter, Diogo Leite stepped on Can's foot, and his subsequent reaction and discussion with the referee again caused displeasure among the Union fans.

Since Can was at risk of receiving a second yellow card, coach Niko Kovac reacted by taking his captain off the field in the 69th minute. As he walked to the bench—and even before—he was met with massive insults from the stands, including slurs like “Hu*****.”

Union erases BVB captain Can from victory photo

Despite the heated scenes, Can remained cool on the field. Early in the game, he had already converted a penalty with ice-cold precision and was not fazed by the loud whistles. After the final whistle, the exchange shifted to the internet. BVB posted on X a victory selfie of Nico Schlotterbeck, Maximilian Beier, and Can—with the caption: “POV: Your guests for the 60th birthday are at the door.” A reference to the big anniversary choreography by the Berlin team before the game.

Union did not let this slide. The Köpenick team published the same photo but cropped out Can and countered with the phrase: “Entry only for invited guests.” The jab at the BVB captain was widely perceived as tasteless—especially since the action clearly related to the heated scenes around Can.

BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel later reacted calmly to the situation and said with a smile: “Knowing Emre, he probably thought it was pretty cool too.” For Can himself, the digital aftermath likely held little weight—athletically, BVB made a clear statement in Berlin.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.