Anwar El Ghazi’s contract is terminated by Mainz after the Dutch winger said he had ‘no remorse or regret’ over a pro-Palestine post on social media
Mainz have confirmed that Anwar El Ghazi’s contract has been terminated due to the Dutch winger’s social media posts about the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The former Aston Villa and PSV star was recently suspended from training and match days at the German club after making a pro-Palestine post on social media – which he quickly deleted.
Mainz announced earlier this week that it had lifted El Ghazi’s suspension after an ‘in-depth conversation’ with the player.
‘Given his commitment to upholding the club’s values and the remorse shown, and in line with the club’s culture of using mistakes as an opportunity to learn, Anwar el Ghazi will soon return to training and match-related activities at FSV Mainz 05,” said a club spokesperson. club statement read.
El Ghazi took to social media again on Wednesday to clarify his position, stressing that he had “no regrets or remorse” over his original post and that he was “against the killing of all civilians.”
Mainz has announced that Anwar El Ghazi’s contract has been terminated with immediate effect
The Bundesliga side confirmed the move after Al Ghazi reiterated his stance on Instagram
Al Ghazi had insisted he had “no regrets or remorse” over his original social media post
Mainz responded to the statement by promising to “examine the facts from a legal point of view and then evaluate the situation.”
The Bundesliga has now agreed to terminate El Ghazi’s contract.
“FSV Mainz 05 terminates the contractual relationship with Anwar el Ghazi and terminated the player with immediate effect on Friday,” a club statement said.
“The club is taking this measure in response to the player’s statements and messages on social media.”
El Ghazi had posted on Instagram to reaffirm his position, claiming that the original October 27 statement was his ‘only and final’ statement to both his club and the public.
He added that any other statements or comments made in his name or attributed to him “are not factually correct,” before laying out his position.
“I condemn the murder of all innocent civilians in Palestine and Israel,” Al Ghazi wrote.
‘My condolences go out to the innocent victims of this conflict, regardless of their nationality. I am committed to a peaceful and integrated region in the Middle East.
“To the extent that my previous statements on social media have been misunderstood, I want to make it clear that I stand for peace and humanity for all.”
El Ghazi made three appearances for Mainz after joining the Bundesliga club in the summer
El Ghazi quickly deleted his original post after a discussion with the Bundesliga club
He claimed that the conflict has resulted in 3,500 child deaths in Gaza in the past three weeks
Mainz’s response to El Ghazi’s original statement detailed how the club believes it has a ‘special responsibility to the State of Israel and the Jewish people’, partly in a nod to their club’s heritage.
One of Mainz’s founders, Eugen Salomon, was Jewish and stripped of his role in the club in 1933 when the Nazi government began the Aryanization of the sports industry.
Salomon was later murdered during the Holocaust and the club’s stadium is named after him.
“The club’s board has made it clear to Anwar El Ghazi that club employees are bound by a code of values,” part of the club’s statement read.
‘Implicit in this code of values is a special responsibility to the State of Israel and the Jewish people, not only because of past events in German history, but also arising from the shared history with one of the founders of FSV and member of the Jewish community . , Eugen Salomon.’
El Ghazi broke his silence last week, apologizing that his previous statements were “misunderstood” as he sought to spread a message condemning the killing of civilians.
El Ghazi wrote: ‘I condemn the murder of all innocent civilians in Palestine and Israel.
‘My condolences go out to the innocent victims of this conflict, regardless of their nationality. I am committed to a peaceful and integrated region in the Middle East.
“To the extent that my previous statements on social media have been misunderstood, I want to make it clear that I stand for peace and humanity for all.”
The player previously played for PSV Eindhoven and came to Mainz as a free agent this summer
In the wake of El Ghazi’s suspension, club representatives met with Israel’s General Consul for Southern Germany, Talya Lador-Fresher.
El Ghazi is one of the few footballers who has commented on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the region.
In Germany, Bayern Munich chose not to punish Noussair Mazraoui after the right back shared pro-Palestinian messages on social media.
The Football Association has ordered clubs to advise their players and staff to exercise ‘extreme caution’ when publicly commenting on the conflict in the Middle East.
It followed Leicester midfielder Hamza Choudhury facing an FA charge after using the ‘from the river to the sea’ on his social media channels.
Choudhury, who has since apologized and deleted the post, escaped FA action.