Anwar El Ghazi is suspended by Mainz over pro-Palestine social media post as the Bundesliga side insist the now-deleted update goes against the ‘values of the club’
- The Dutchman has been suspended from training and matches in Mainz
- Anwar El Ghazi posted a pro-Palestine statement on his Instagram story
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Mainz winger Anwar El Ghazi has been suspended by the Bundesliga club after posting a now-deleted message on social media about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Ghaza.
The Dutchman was previously linked with a shock summer move to Manchester United, amid the club’s winger crisis and El Ghazi as a free agent at the time.
He eventually joined Mainz on a two-year contract until 2025, but has now been suspended from training and matches by the club over his post in a rare incident involving the content players publish on social media.
In a statement posted on Tuesday, the club explained: ‘Prior to making this decision, the club and the player were involved in an in-depth discussion.
‘Mainz 05 respects the fact that different perspectives exist on the decades-long, complex conflict in the Middle East.
Mainz winger Anwar El Ghazi has been suspended by the Bundesliga club over a social media post
El Ghazi (blue shirt) published a pro-Palestine message on his Instagram post before deleting it
‘However, the club distances itself from the content of the relevant message on social media, because it does not align with the club’s values.’
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has largely divided opinion, with El Ghazi one of the few players to break their silence by addressing the topic in an online Instagram post.
The 28-year-old previously played in the Premier League for both Aston Villa and Everton, but has moved to Germany in search of more regular first-team opportunities.
Part of El Ghazi’s social media update read: “Palestine will be free” before he deleted the post from his Instagram Story.
The Dutchman was previously linked with a shock summer move to Manchester United
He has made three appearances in the German top flight so far this season and registered one assist, but will now be indefinitely absent from Bo Svensson’s team.
Bayern Munich are similarly investigating a member of their squad for similar activity on social media, after full-back Noussair Mazraoui shared a pro-Palestinian video online.
“Bayern immediately contacted Noussair Mazraoui following his Instagram posts on Sunday,” a club statement told German news agency DPA.
‘After his return (from the national team), a detailed personal meeting with the club management in Munich is planned.’
