Supporters of German football powerhouse Borussia Dortmund are being incentivised to put away their smartphones during matches under a new initiative aimed at preserving stadium atmosphere.

The club is offering signed shirts and merchandise vouchers to fans who track and reduce their screen time using a mobile application during games.

Stating that "more and more fans are annoyed by selfies, streaming, and social media in the stands," Dortmund has introduced a voluntary "fan mode" in its app, starting on Saturday for the home fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt.

This feature tracks how frequently a phone is unlocked during play, excluding the halftime break. Users gain points by keeping their screens off and lose points each time the device is unlocked, with top scorers winning prizes.

"Over 81,000 people in the stadium, singing, cheering, and holding their breath together: this here and now is irreplaceable," Dortmund CEO Carsten Cramer said in a statement on Thursday.

The rewards scheme is entirely voluntary, and no formal restriction on phone usage is being imposed.

German football is famed for its passionate fan culture, notably Dortmund’s iconic "Yellow Wall" standing terrace. The initiative reflects a wider resistance across the German game against transforming matchday atmospheres into social media content, particularly by creators using professional equipment.

Second-division side Hertha Berlin announced this month that it was banning "commercially produced and monetized" video coverage from its fixtures, while allowing personal photography and filming. Dynamo Dresden similarly restricted commercial filming in August, citing spectator comfort and the protection of television rights.

Meanwhile, Dortmund’s players will not face matchday phone bans, coach Niko Kovac confirmed on Friday.

Kovac prohibits devices during team meals but permits phone and headphone use in the dressing room and on the team bus.

"The guys are grown up enough to work out what they need to get ready for the game," Kovac said.

However, he acknowledged the broader benefits of reducing screen time: "I think we could all spend a little less time looking at our phones now and then," Kovac said. "If we cut back on it we can all concentrate a bit more on other things."