Anwar El Ghazi’s career at the German Mainz 05 will probably be limited to three substitute appearances. The 28-year-old former player of Ajax and PSV, among others, has been suspended by the Bundesliga club for allegedly downplaying Hamas violence in Israel on Instagram.
The message that the attacker posted on social media on Sunday has now been deleted. “In this, El Ghazi had taken a position on the conflict in the Middle East in a way that was unbearable for the club,” Mainz said in a statement. “The suspension was preceded by a heated conversation between the board and the player.”
Formally it is El Ghazi, that three and a half weeks ago signed with Mainz suspended, but given the club’s tone in the press release, it seems impossible that there is a way back. “Mainz respects that there are different perspectives on the complex conflict in the Middle East that has been going on for decades. However, the club clearly distances itself from the content of the post as it does not go hand in hand with the values of our club.’
“El Ghazi, who is no longer part of Mainz’s squad for Saturday’s match against Bayern Munich, caused a stir with a shocking post about Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack on Israel,” the post said. Image
The two-time Dutch international is said to have shared the slogan ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ on Instagram. He was not appreciated for that because it meant that the state of Israel would have to disappear.
El Ghazi is not the first footballer in Germany to get into trouble for his opinion about the escalated conflict in the Middle East. Also Bayern Munich player Noussair Mazraouiex-Ajax, was also under fire for pro-Palestine statements on social media.
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