Punishment for political posts
Posts with political content can have serious consequences for football professionals. However, whether measures such as termination without notice are permitted must be examined legally. “The constitutionally protected freedom of expression is particularly limited when crimes such as insults or incitement are committed,” said Ulf Baranowsky, managing director of the VDV players’ union, to the “German Press Agency”.
“The extent to which there are criminal violations and whether labor law sanctions are legally compliant must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.” However, one thing is clear: “Especially in armed conflicts, public figures should live up to their role model function,” said Baranowsky: “The goal must be to de-escalate and to create lasting peace.”
Following the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians and the devastating escalation of the Middle East conflict with many civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip, some professionals have caused a stir in recent days with pro-Palestine and anti-Israel posts on social media. The recently signed Anwar El Ghazi (28) from 1. FSV Mainz 05 has been released from playing and training at his club. In France, Algerian international Youcef Atal (27) has been suspended “until further notice” by OGC Nice. Atal is said to have shared a video of a Palestinian preacher on Instagram. The post has now been deleted. The French judicial authorities are investigating the 27-year-old on suspicion, among other things, of having publicly supported terrorism.
Baranowsky also holds the clubs responsible. “Prevention is also important,” he said: “Especially in sport, it is important to sensitize young people at an early stage and to talk to them if they have problems.”
Mainz 05: El Ghazi will probably only be able to play for another club from summer 2024
It remains unclear whether it is possible to terminate the contract between Mainz 05 and winger El Ghazi, which was only concluded at the end of September. The “KickerHowever, in a post on Wednesday, he describes this as hardly justifiable.
The FSV had given the former Dutch international with Moroccan roots a contract until 2025. In addition to termination, an agreement to terminate the contract would be an option for the suspended professional, but then Mainz would have to pay an agreed amount in outstanding salaries.
A move to a club in one of the major European leagues in the winter transfer window is only an option if El Ghazi is willing to stay fit for around six months without match practice at his potentially new club. The 28-year-old played twice for former club PSV Eindhoven in August before terminating his contract there and signing for Mainz a short time later. According to FIFA regulations, professionals are only allowed to play for two professional clubs within a season. He has made three appearances in the Bundesliga so far.
As an exception, paragraph 5, paragraph 3 of the FIFA transfer rules Such leagues are run which, for example, are played from spring to autumn. In such a case, players are allowed to play for a third club if they have “fulfilled their contractual obligations to previous clubs”.
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