Suspended by Mainz following his support for the Palestinian cause, Anwar El Ghazi was reinstated at the start of the week by the Bundesliga team. It announced the news via a press release published on its official website. “Anwar El Ghazi was warned by FSV Mainz 05 for posting a message on social media two weeks ago. The 28-year-old Dutchman commented on the conflict in the Middle East in a way that was intolerable for the club. After the publication, the club immediately released its player from training and matches. Since then, during several conversations with club management, El Ghazi has distanced himself from his publication on his Instagram account. A publication that he himself deleted after just a few minutes. He regretted the publication of the article and its negative impact, particularly for the entire club. In this context, El Ghazi also clearly distanced himself from terrorist acts such as those of Hamas, which two weeks ago led to a new escalation of violence in the Middle East. He underlined his sympathy with the victims of this attack as well as with all the victims of this conflict. He made it clear that he was not questioning Israel’s right to exist (…) In the context of El Ghazi’s commitment and the remorse he has shown, the club’s culture of error management requires that the player be given a chance to rehabilitate. Anwar El Ghazi will therefore resume training and matches at FSV Mainz 05 as soon as possible.” The case is closed.”
Except that the reality is very different. El Ghazi published a message this Wednesday. “My position remains the same as it was when this started. I am against war and violence. I am against the killing of all innocent civilians. I am against any form of discrimination. I am against Islamaphobia. I am against anti-Semitism. I am against genocide. I am against apartheid. I am against the occupation. I am against oppression. I have no regrets or remorse for my position. I do not distance myself from what I said and I stand, today and always until my last breath, for humanity and the oppressed. I have no particular responsibility towards any State. I do not believe that any people or state is beyond all question and responsibility, nor that it is above international law. I have no choice but to stand firm and bear witness to the truth and I would do so even if it was against me, my parents, my relatives and my loved ones.” Statements which therefore go against the press release published by his club on Monday. Mainz welcomed this news “with surprise and incomprehension” and added that “the club will examine the matter legally and then evaluate it”. The player has been on sick leave since Monday and is not currently training, Mainz said.
