Mainz became famous after its statements regarding the conflict in Gaza
Anwar El Ghazi is done with German football club Mainz after he published pro-Palestinian posts on social media in October.
El Ghazi was initially suspended by the club on 18 October, but was later brought back due to the heat. On Wednesday, the player published a new post in which he did not distance himself from his previous statements about the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Now the club has taken steps to terminate the Dutchman’s contract, they said in a statement website.
“Mainz 05 terminated its contractual relationship with Anwar El Ghazi and dismissed the player with immediate effect. “The club is taking this action in response to the player’s statements and posts on social media,” the message read.
Earlier on Friday, the German prosecutor’s office announced that it had opened an investigation into El Ghazi. He was suspected of “disturbing public peace and inciting criminal acts”, according to a message reproduced by the AFP news agency.
In the first message on October 16, El Ghazi accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza after Hamas killed 1,400 soldiers and civilians in Israel on October 7.
He concluded with: “From the river to the sea Palestine will be free.”
El Ghazi deleted the post shortly afterward.
On Wednesday, he made a new statement on X/Twitter:
“I don’t regret my position. I do not distance myself from what I say, neither today nor until my last breath. How can we as a world community be silent when innocent children die? The number continues to increase every day. This has to stop.”
El Ghazi previously played for Premier League clubs Aston Villa and PSV Eindhoven in Dutch football.
(NTB/NRK)
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