El Ghazi files suit against Mainz 05 for dismissal
According to the "Allgemeine Zeitung", Dutch-Moroccan professional footballer Anwar El Ghazi has reportedly filed an action for unfair dismissal against Bundesliga club FSV Mainz 05 with the Mainz labor court. This would be in response to the termination without notice of his contract, which runs until summer 2025. The club did not initially respond to a request for comment. Mainz 05 had felt compelled to do so because the 28-year-old striker had repeatedly published pro-Palestinian Instagram posts.
According to the newspaper, El Ghazi is being represented by employment and sports lawyer Alexander Bergweiler, who had already expressed doubts that the dismissal without notice was lawful. The professional had initially been warned by the club for a pro-Palestinian post. In another post, El Ghazi indirectly contradicted a statement from Mainz 05 that he had shown remorse.
"I don't see anything in the new post that is not covered by freedom of expression," Bergweiler told the newspaper two weeks ago after the case became public. Now the lawyer is to represent El Ghazi, according to the report.
The starting point was El Ghazi's first contribution in mid-October. Following the attack on Israel by terrorists on behalf of Hamas on October 7, he wrote in an Instagram post that was subsequently deleted: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." What is meant is that Palestine should expand from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. In a way, this denies Israel's right to exist.
Despite these issues, FSV Mainz 05 continues to participate in the Bundesliga, with their next match against Borussia Monchengladbach scheduled this weekend. El Ghazi's dismissal has sparked an ongoing debate within the soccer community, with many fans showing support for the player.
Source: www.dpa.com
