Mainz 05(plays in the German Bundesliga, currently 17th on the German league table) have announced decision to suspend Anwar El Ghazi after he posted a pro-Palestinian Instagram story and took position in political discussion, club reports.
El Ghazi joined the club just couple of weeks ago as free agent.
This is the club official statements:
“1. FSV MAINZ 05 HAVE RELIEVED ANWAR EL GHAZI OF HIS TRAINING AND MATCHDAY RELATED DUTIES.
THE DECISION COMES AS A RESULT OF A SINCE-DELETED SOCIAL MEDIA POST FROM THE 28-YEAR-OLD THAT APPEARED ON SUNDAY EVENING. IN THE POST, EL GHAZI TOOK A POSITION ON THE ONGOING CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT WAS DEEMED UNACCEPTABLE BY THE CLUB. 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. 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.”