BUNDESLIGA CLUB Mainz sacked footballer Anwar El Ghazi on Friday, hours after German prosecutors opened an investigation over his social media posts on the Israel-Hamas war.
Mainz tweeted they were “ending the contractual relationship with Anwar El Ghazi and terminated the player with immediate effect”.
Mainz also clarified in a statement that they were “taking this action in response to the player’s statements and posts on social media”.
Earlier on Friday, German prosecutors said the Dutch footballer, who made over 100 appearances for Aston Villa between 2018 and 2022, is suspected of “disturbing public peace by condoning criminal acts in conjunction with incitement to hatred” through his message on Instagram.
El Ghazi had shared several posts on social media early in the conflict, including one that carried the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” — a slogan interpreted by some as a call for the destruction of Israel, while others say it appeals for equality for Israelis and Palestinians.
El Ghazi was suspended by Mainz on 17 October over the post but the club later said the player could return after he “explicitly distanced himself” from the statements.
But El Ghazi on Wednesday took to social media again to say “I do not regret or have any remorse for my position.
“Any other statements, comments or apologies to the contrary attributed to me are not factually correct and have not been made or authorised by me.”
Mainz had reacted to the latest salvo with “surprise and incomprehension”, saying they will “examine the matter legally and then evaluate it”.
El Ghazi was signed on 22 September by Mainz and played just 51 minutes in total for the club in three matches.
Israel launched a massive retaliatory assault against Gaza’s Hamas rulers after its fighters carried out the 7 October attack, which Israeli officials say killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians.
More than 9,200 people have been killed in Gaza, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said.
Glad TJV got the stage win for van Hooydonck. You could see what it meant to Vingegaard at the end.
Although Vingo is crazy good, would love to see Kuss win the Vuelta. And I mean WIN it and not handed it by team orders. Although not sure what team orders are for TJV.
@Kevin Dillon: Angliru tomorrow will reveal all. Looks like they’re going with a strategy of having Vingegaard attack and force the others to decide between trying to follow him (and ideally have Kuss and Roglic sit on their wheel) or wait behind with Kuss. Apparently van Hooydonck is awake and doing well which is great news in what has been a horrific year in the peloton.
I would also love to see Kuss win it, and as you say not be handed it which jumbo could possibly do. To be fair though their best option is letting Jonas attack and see if Kuss can just sit on whoever tries to follow and if he ends up in red at the end brilliant. Putting all their eggs in one basket and using up Jonas and Roglic to be domestique for Kuss would be dangerous even though he’s in red and deservedly so but not sure he would be able to respond to attack after attack. Cracking race and fantastic tactics and options from JV as usual.
@sean murphy: 100% on jumbo’s tactics.ostly always get them right.