- Wasim Haq was fired from his position at LTA after a controversial post online
- He is also a councilor for the FA and they have suspended him from office
- Haq deleted his tweet and apologized with a lengthy message on social media
The FA has suspended councilor Wasim Haq after he tweeted that ‘Adolf Hitler would be proud of Benjamin Netanyahu’, the Israeli prime minister.
Haq was dismissed from his similar role on the Lawn Tennis Association council, which condemned his ‘unacceptable’ comment amid Israel’s continued military action in Gaza.
On Tuesday morning, an FA spokeswoman said: ‘The investigation into Wasim Haq’s conduct is ongoing and he has been suspended from his duties on the Council pending the outcome of the trial.’
Haq, whose
He wrote: ‘It has been brought to my attention that a tweet I published yesterday has been offensive. I have deleted the tweet and apologize unreservedly to anyone who was offended.”
Wasim Haq (above) apologized for his post and pulled it from his X profile
The LTA councilor was fired for a tweet about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured), in which he said: ‘Hitler would be proud’
He later added: “My tweet was directly related to comparing two individuals who, in my view, have caused contemporary and historical irreparable damage to the affected communities on both sides of this tragic conflict.
“I’m not the kind of person to target anyone or any community, and I never have been. I am NOT anti-Semitic and have never been accused of being so.
“I apologize unreservedly if this was taken in any other way. Anyone who knows me knows that I am counted on behalf of every community that is marginalized in any way, and that I will continue to do so for the rest of my life.
“To all those offended, I deeply apologize – and I continue to pray for an end to the unnecessary loss of life during this tragic conflict.”
Haq, who was appointed to the LTA council on March 21 to help promote diversity and inclusivity within the sport, was removed from his position on Monday.
A statement from the LTA said: “The LTA Board today considered this matter and agreed that the tweet posted by Wasim Haq on November 11 was unacceptable and in no way reflects the position or values of the LTA reflects.
“The board has therefore agreed that Wasim Haq will be removed from his role as an independent councilor with immediate effect.”
The LTA condemned Haq’s post as ‘unacceptable’ and dismissed him
Haq posted his full apology on social media and says he supports anyone who is being marginalized
Israel has rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and to continue military action.
Israel has been bombing Gaza since the October 7 Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 people and took at least 230 hostage.
The IDF bombs Gaza from the air and continues on the ground, while also deploying 300,000 reservists.
Netanyahu says Israel has a “clear objective to destroy Hamas’ military and governance capabilities” and to free the hostages being held.
More than 11,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza since October 7.