St. Pauli are caught in a scandal after board member René Born allegedly created a fake social media account to criticize captain Jackson Irvine. The controversy, revealed by Irvine’s wife, has sparked debate about club values, fan culture, and professionalism as the Bundesliga side tries to focus on the season.
St. Pauli, currently ninth in the Bundesliga, are at the center of a remarkable and somewhat bizarre controversy that has shaken the club’s usually united image.
The incident began when Jemilla Pir, the wife of team captain Jackson Irvine, took to social media to reveal that René Born, a member of the club’s board of directors, had allegedly created a fake social media account with the intention of publicly criticizing the Australian international midfielder.
The revelation has sent shockwaves through Hamburg and beyond, not only because of the personal nature of the accusations but also because of the values St. Pauli are known to stand for. The club has long been recognized worldwide for its unique identity: a bastion of left-wing politics, fan culture, inclusivity, and strong opposition to racism, fascism, and discrimination. For many, the idea that a senior club official would anonymously attack one of the team’s most visible figures is seen as a breach of those values.
According to German football magazine Kicker, the criticism of Irvine is not entirely new. The midfielder, who is 31 years old and also captain of the Australian national team, has been a polarizing figure ever since last summer. At the time, Irvine was photographed at a concert in Portugal wearing a pro-Palestine shirt that included a map of the region without Israel. The image sparked widespread debate, with some accusing him of antisemitism, though others defended the act as political expression. The controversy has lingered, and for certain critics, it remains part of the narrative around Irvine.
More recently, Irvine has been the subject of another wave of disapproval, this time from sections of his own fan base. While sidelined with an injury, the midfielder appeared in promotional material for a fashion collection alongside his wife, Jemilla Pir. Some St. Pauli supporters viewed the posts as inappropriate, arguing that a club captain should not be seen modeling during recovery. Others felt the criticism was overblown, noting that professional players are entitled to private projects and personal branding.
The situation escalated dramatically when Jemilla herself uncovered and publicized evidence that among the critical voices online was a fake account named “rene.fcsp” – a profile that bore a striking resemblance to René Born’s identity. The account posted sharp comments such as: “No one is bigger than the club” and “This club is ours, not yours. You’ll be gone in a few months playing somewhere else for a bit more money. We’ll always be here, while you’ll end up as nothing more than a footnote.”
For many fans, the comments themselves were not unusual, as they echoed the kind of frustration often seen in football discourse. What made the revelation explosive, however, was the alleged author. The idea that a sitting board member might be hiding behind an alias to criticize the captain of the team he helps govern struck many as deeply unprofessional, if not unethical.
By the time Jemilla revealed the story online, Kicker reported that the club was already aware of the situation. Born had admitted responsibility and sent a personal letter of apology to Irvine, acknowledging his actions. While the gesture may have been an attempt to close the matter internally, the public exposure of the incident has made it impossible to contain.
In response, FC St. Pauli issued an official statement confirming that internal discussions were taking place. “We urgently appeal to everyone to act in a spirit of respect and with the constructive interests of FC St. Pauli as a whole,” the statement read. “Defamation on social media helps no one – it harms us all.” The wording was deliberately general, avoiding direct reference to Born, but it left little doubt about the context.
The timing of the controversy is particularly sensitive. St. Pauli, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, are enjoying a solid start to life back in the top flight. Sitting ninth after several competitive performances, the club has been focused on consolidating its status in Germany’s elite division. The distraction of an internal scandal risks undermining that progress and could affect both dressing-room morale and the public perception of the club’s leadership.
Supporters are divided in their reactions. Some have expressed outrage at Born’s behavior, calling for his resignation on the grounds that he undermined both the captain and the values of the club. Others have emphasized the importance of moving on quickly, suggesting that while the incident is embarrassing, it should not overshadow the team’s sporting progress.
For Irvine himself, the situation adds yet another layer to what has been a turbulent year. Beyond the controversies, the midfielder has been praised for his leadership qualities and his consistent performances when fit. As captain, he has been instrumental in uniting a squad that is adapting to the demands of Bundesliga football. His response to the incident, at least so far, has been measured, as he has refrained from making public comments beyond those shared by his wife.
The scandal also raises wider questions about the pressures on modern footballers and the role of social media. St. Pauli’s statement highlighted the toxic nature of online abuse and the way it can damage individuals and institutions alike. The call for respect reflects an ongoing debate within German football about how clubs and fans interact in the digital era, and where boundaries of accountability and professionalism should be drawn.
For now, the club is attempting to manage the fallout quietly while ensuring that the focus returns to the pitch. Whether Born faces further consequences remains unclear, but the episode has undoubtedly left a mark on St. Pauli’s season, becoming one of the more unusual stories in German football this year.
