Mainz must pay Million-dollar amount to El Ghazi
Anwar El Ghazi's Instagram Posts Caused Stir, Mainz 05's Dismissal of Him Declared Unlawful by Labor Court
The labor court in Mainz has declared the dismissal of soccer professional Anwar El Ghazi by Bundesliga team FSV Mainz 05, due to his propalestinian Instagram posts, as invalid. The presiding judge, Bettina Chaudhry, explained this decision by stating that no duty violation occurred that would necessitate the termination of the employment contract.
The ruling concerned a social media post from El Ghazi on November 1, where he stated that he stood by his original posting and would not retract it. The general public's understanding was that this fell under the protection of freedom of speech.
This did not constitute a breach of loyalty that would warrant termination. El Ghazi is owed approximately 1.7 million Euros in unpaid wages and bonuses. He is also to be re-engaged as a licensed player.
First Post Not Evaluated
Following the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, El Ghazi wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." This could mean that Palestine intends to expand from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, effectively denying Israel's existence.
This post is not taken into account for the validity of the termination, as there is a 14-day period for such cases after the grounds for termination become known. FSV Mainz 05 has announced their intention to review the decision. El Ghazi had sued the Mainz club over the termination. His contract with the Rheinhessen originally ran until June 30 of the current year but has been extended due to the team's class maintenance until June 30, 2023. At a hearing in January, the lawyers of both parties failed to reach an agreement.
The 14-day period for evaluating Anwar El Ghazi's controversial Instagram post about Palestine, made after the Israel-War incident on October 7, has not yet been surpassed. Despite this, the recent labor court ruling in Mainz has declared his dismissal from 1. FSV Mainz 05 due to other posts as unlawful.
In the Football-Bundesliga, controversies surrounding political statements and soccer remain a topic of interest, highlighting the intertwined nature of sports and politics in contemporary society.
