The leaked list of fines for Dortmund players – is this the secret to their Champions League lead?

After two rounds of the Champions League group stage matches in the new season, it’s not the giants like Bayern Munich, Manchester City, or Real Madrid that are at the top, but Borussia Dortmund. They won 3-0 against Club Brugge and thrashed Celtic 7-1, with a goal difference of +9. Why is this team, which isn’t at the pinnacle of strength, leading the Champions League? Perhaps it has something to do with the strict management implemented by the club.

Since Şahin took over the reins at Dortmund, he seems to have transformed into the team’s “iron-fisted manager,” and the recently exposed list of fines from Dortmund further confirms this point.

According to Bild, Şahin has shown the players what it means to be “disciplined.”

The media revealed a disciplinary list from Dortmund, stipulating that if a player is late, they must pay 100 euros (about 83 pounds) for every minute they are late. If they are late on match day, the fine starts at 3000 euros! For missing an event altogether, the fine jumps to 5000 euros, making lateness unaffordable.

Moreover, failing to participate in weight checks or wearing inappropriate clothing also incurs a fine of 250 euros. For Dortmund, interaction between players and fans is a significant matter. Not signing autograph cards will result in a 2000 euro fine; refusing to sign jerseys comes with a 500 euro penalty.

Not to mention using mobile phones during meals, therapy sessions, or club activities, or not tidying up after training, each carries a 100 euro fine. This is essentially telling the players, “This is not your home, follow the rules.”

Once these fine lists were shared online, they sparked heated discussions. It seems that the Dortmund players not only need to have excellent skills but also learn to adhere to various regulations. After all, during Terzić’s tenure, despite average Bundesliga performance, reaching the Champions League final indicated that there was indeed something special about the team’s internal management. As his successor, Şahin naturally hopes to build upon his predecessor’s achievements and take things to the next level.