In a significant legal ruling, a German labor court has sided with Moroccan international footballer Anwar El Ghazi in his dispute with Bundesliga club Mainz 05, finding his dismissal was unjustified.
The case stemmed from a social media post by El Ghazi last October concerning the conflict in Gaza. The player’s contract was terminated by Mainz 05 in November after what the club described as a “disciplinary procedure.”
The court in Mainz has now ruled that the termination was invalid. Crucially, the judgment states that El Ghazi’s post, made on his private Instagram account, constituted a “general statement for peace” and fell under his right to freedom of expression. The court found no evidence that the post was antisemitic or that it violated the club’s values in a way that justified dismissal.
This article reveals that the written court judgment explicitly notes El Ghazi’s message was a call for peace for all involved, including Israeli and Palestinian civilians. It further stated the player did not express antisemitic views or approve of violence by Hamas.
Following his exit from Mainz, Anwar El Ghazi signed a short-term contract with Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund in January, which concluded at the end of the season. The legal victory reinforces the boundaries of personal expression for professional athletes in Germany.
