A German court has ruled that Dutch footballer Anwar El Ghazi’s contract was unfairly terminated by football club FSV Mainz 05 over comments he made about Israel’s war on Gaza.
The court concluded that El Ghazi’s comments on social media were not enough for the club to terminate his contract. And in fact, his comments were protected by the fundamental right to freedom of speech.
The judge ordered the football club to pay El Ghazi 1.7 million euros in compensation, equivalent to the nine months salary he missed following his dismissal in November last year.
The court also ruled that El Ghazi must be allowed to return to the club for the year remaining on his contract. El Ghazi and Mainz will likely negotiate a settlement for his departure from the club.
The German football club controversially terminated El Ghazi’s contract over his social media posts in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Following the termination, El Ghazi said: “Stand for what is right, even if it means standing alone.
“The loss of my livelihood is nothing when compared to the hell being unleashed on the innocent and vulnerable in Gaza.”
El Ghazi launched the legal proceedings soon after his dismissal, and Mainz filed a countersuit, which the court threw out.
El Ghazi’s known in the UK for his time at Aston Villa but has also played for Ajax and PSV Eindhoven in his native Holland.
Solidarity with children of Gaza
The Dutch star continues to remain vocal about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza on social media.
In June, he helped organise a charity football match to raise funds for children in Gaza with Nujum Sports, a not-for-profit that supports Muslim athletes.
He described the match as “the most special” he’s played in.
“The emotion kicked in before the kickoff,” El Ghazi told Islam Channel, a supporter and media partner of the event. “I knew how special this was, and what I’m doing it for. I felt really proud and happy on the pitch.”
The exhibition match brought together an impressive list of current and former international stars from across Europe’s top leagues at Barnet FC’s ground.
There were legendary figures like Bacary Sagna (ex-Arsenal and Manchester City), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Younus Kaboul (ex-Spurs), Adlène Guedioura (ex-Algerian international). Others also showed their support, including Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury and football influencer Taiyo Kimura.
Nujum Sports said the verdict in El Ghazi’s case was a victory “for all athletes”.
“We hope clubs and professional bodies take note and do not continue to repress legitimate freedom of speech by pressurising athletes to remain silent or adopt a particular narrative with threats of terminating contracts,” it said in a statement.
“Too often in the last nine months we have seen Muslim athletes unjustifiably vilified, pressurised and publicly named and shamed for speaking against the atrocities subjected upon the innocent civilians and children in Gaza.
“It cannot be right for sporting bodies and organisations, particularly those established to tackle discrimination, to admonish athletes for speaking against the repression and killing of innocent civilians in one nation yet allow the same for another nation. We must always stand and speak for humanity and justice for all.”
