Mainz have suspended Anwar El Ghazi for his pro-Palestine comments on social media. The player uploaded a story on his Instagram in support of Palestine which has since been taken down. And as per an official statement from the club, he has been relieved of his duties with the first team and training for the time being.
The 28-year-old has made three appearances for Mainz after signing for them this summer as a free agent, registering one assist. And his suspension comes only weeks after signing a one-year contract with the Bundesliga side.
Anwar El Ghazi suspended for pro-Palestine comments on Instagram
‘Prior to making this decision, the club and the player had engaged in an in-depth discussion.
‘Mainz 05 respect the fact that there are varying perspectives on the decades-long, complex conflict in the Middle East,’ Mainz wrote in an official statement in response to the matter.
‘However, the club are distancing themselves from the content of the social media post in question, as it does not align with the values of the club.’
This summer, the Dutchman had the opportunity to sign for Manchester United amidst their selection crisis with wingers. But, the former Aston Villa and Everton winger ultimately decided to make the move to the Bundesliga and try out a new experience.
Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui has also been called in by the club in response to his stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. There have been several instances of players receiving backlash for supporting Palestine in the past, and this is the latest in a string of such issues.
