Controversy over what a German player did when they asked him to sign a gay pride t-shirt

Kevin Behrens, a current player for Wolfsburg and the German national team, has found himself at the center of a controversy involving allegations of homophobia. The 33-year-old striker reportedly refused to sign a special jersey featuring rainbow colors, created to support the LGBTQ+ movement as part of a charitable initiative aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion.

During the incident, while signing an official jersey, Behrens made an inflammatory remark that has drawn condemnation from the LGBTQ+ community, stating, “I’m not signing this gay shit.” Following the backlash, he issued an apology, saying, "I would like to apologize for what happened. The matter was discussed internally, and I prefer not to comment further on the issue."

Club’s Response and Internal Actions

Wolfsburg has been forced to address the fallout from Behrens's comments. An urgent internal meeting was convened, where the player had to explain his actions to Sporting Director Sebastian Schindzielorz. The club released a statement affirming that "during an internal meeting, comments were made that did not align with the position of VfL Wolfsburg," and emphasized that "the incident was addressed internally immediately."

This controversy comes at a challenging time for Behrens, who has struggled to secure playing time this season under coach Ralph Hasenhüttl, logging only 42 minutes across three substitute appearances. Once a significant contributor for Union Berlin during the 2022/23 season, Behrens's future at Wolfsburg now hangs in the balance, with his contract set to expire at the end of this year.

• Kevin Behrens is accused of homophobia for refusing to sign a rainbow-themed jersey supporting LGBTQ+ initiatives.
• His controversial remark, “I’m not signing this gay shit,” has sparked outrage and led to an internal apology.
• Wolfsburg's management quickly organized a meeting to address the issue and confirm their stance against such comments.
• The club issued a statement clarifying that Behrens's statements do not reflect their values.
• Behrens has had limited playing opportunities this season, contributing only 42 minutes in three matches, raising doubts about his future with the club.