German Court Orders Mainz to Reinstate Player Fired Over Pro-Palestinian Posts

A victory for Anwar El Ghazi. The Dutch player of Moroccan origin will be reinstated at Mainz after his dismissal on November 3 for pro-Palestinian posts on Instagram. In a statement, the local labor court announced that it had "canceled his exceptional dismissal, without notice." The court in this city in western Germany considers the dismissal unjustified and the contract remains valid. His contract runs until 2025. The labor court therefore orders the club to compensate the former Dutch international for at least 1.5 million euros and to renew the contract. They ruled on one of the player’s Instagram posts dated November 1. "Defending what is right, even alone. The loss of my job cannot be compared to the horror experienced by the innocents of Gaza. Stop these killings," he had written. He had previously taken up the famous slogan: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" and had considered the situation in Palestine to be "a genocide and mass destruction."

El Ghazi had played for English, Dutch and French clubs like Ajax and PSV before arriving in Germany. Recruited by Mainz on September 22, while he was without a contract, he has only played 51 minutes spread over three Bundesliga matches.