Anwar El Ghazi has seen his contract terminated by Bundesliga side Mainz following his social media post about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
On 17th October, 2023, Anwar El Ghazi was suspended by the Bundesliga side who stated that his now-deleted post was not acceptable.
El Ghazi, 28, was reportedly asked to apologize to the Bundesliga side for his post that was seen as pro-Palestinian post by the German club.
However, the Dutchman informed the club’s senior executives that he stands for peace and humanity for all victims of the war.
Anwar El Ghazi joined the German Bundesliga side as a free agent on 22nd September, 2023 after he departed Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven.
Well, the reason why Anwar El Ghazi is facing this issue is that under German labour law, employers have 14 days from the date they are affirmed of committing a gross misconduct to terminate their contract.
However, should the employer miss out on the 14 days deadline, they would have to pay the contract out in full to the employee.
Mainz declined to comment when contacted by several platforms and the club has not released any statement in regards to the issue.
Nice defender Youcef Atal is also another player that has been suspended and is currently being investigated by French procecutors.
Youcef Atal unlike is being investigated for allegedly posting an anti-Semitic video relating to the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Anwar El Ghazi
Anwar El Ghazi is a Dutch footballer who was born on 3 May 1995 and plays as a winger or midfielder for Bundesliga club Mainz 05.
Anwar El Ghazi played for Ajax, Lille, Premier League’s side Aston Villa and Everton before joining PSV in 2022.
The Dutchman started his football career in the youth ranks of his local club BVV Barendrecht, joining the youth academy of Feyenoord for two seasons.
El Ghazi later joined the ranks of Spartaan ’20 before being recruited to Sparta Rotterdam, where he progressed through the academy.
The Dutchman joined the Ajax Youth Academy, playing for the A1 selection (under-19), competing in the UEFA Youth League.
What Happened To Anwar El Ghazi?
On October 17, 2023, El Ghazi was suspended by Mainz 05 for posting a pro-Palestinian picture on Instagram on the Israel-Hamas conflict of 2023 that said, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Anwar El Ghazi subsequently said “Every individual, be it in Palestine or elsewhere, has the right to security, a loving home, and opportunities to grow.”
Following El Ghazi’s release, Mainz 05’s official Instagram account was taken offline due to frequent antisemitic and anti-Israel remarks.
The full text of his now-deleted post reads: “This is not war. When one side cuts off water, food and electricity on another then it’s not war.”
“When one side has nuclear weapons then it’s not war. When one side is getting funded with billions of dollars then it’s not war.
“When one side uses Al pictures to spread misinformation about another then it’s not war. When social media is censoring the content of one side and not the other then it’s not war”.
Anwar El Ghazi also went on to add: “This isn’t a conflict and it’s not war. This is genocide and mass destruction and we’re witnessing it happen live.”
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
How Did Mainz React?
A statement from the German club read: “Mainz 05 have relieved Anwar El Ghazi of his training and matchday-related duties”.
They also stated their reason for handing him an indefinite suspension, saying: “In the post, El Ghazi took a position on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that was deemed unacceptable by the club.”
The 05ers also added that they respect the fact that there are contrasting views on the subject matter, but they are distancing themselves from Anwar El Ghazi’s post on Instagram.
The club went on to add: “Mainz 05 respects the fact that there are varying perspectives on the decades-long, complex conflict in the Middle East.
“However, the club are distancing themselves from the content of the social media post in question, as it does not align with the values of the club.”
