Mainz suspend El Ghazi following social media post

FSV Mainz 05 confirmed an indefinite suspension for Dutch attacker Anwar El Ghazi following a social media post on Tuesday. 

A pro-Palestinian instagram post has earned FSV Mainz 05 attacker Anwar El Ghazi an indefinite suspension from his German club team. The recently signed 28-year-old, in the view of his German employer, specifically questioned Israel’s right to exist with a post proclaiming that Palestine must exist “from the river to the sea.” The German club made clear in a statement that such a stance was not acceptable in light of the current Hamas terror wave that has claimed the lives of 1,400 civilians.

“El Ghazi took a position on the conflict in the Middle East in a way that was intolerable for the club,” a statement released by Mainz read, “Mainz 05 respects that there are different perspectives on the complex Middle East conflict 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.”

Mainz left open whether or not El Ghazi would return to the club at all. Signed on a free in late September, the Dutchman’s contract runs through the end of next season. The player has made three substitute appearances for head-coach Bo Svensson in the league, most recently registering an assist in the round seven 2-2 draw with Gladbach. El Ghazi’s post has since been deleted from his instagram feed.

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