Anwar El Ghazi has secured another significant legal victory against his former club, 1. FSV Mainz 05. The German labor court has ruled that the club must pay the Dutch winger millions in outstanding salary.
The dispute stems from Mainz’s decision to suspend El Ghazi in October 2023 after he posted a message on social media regarding the conflict in Israel and Palestine. The club terminated his contract in November, a move El Ghazi contested through the legal system.
This latest ruling follows a prior interim decision by the court in Frankfurt, which had already ordered Mainz to make an initial payment of over €100,000. The new verdict confirms the club is liable for the remainder of his contracted salary, believed to be several million euros, covering the period from his suspension until the original contract end date in June 2024.
Mainz 05 has announced it will appeal the decision. The club maintains its position that the contract termination was legally justified.
El Ghazi, who joined Mainz on a free transfer in September 2023, made only three brief substitute appearances before the suspension. He has since signed with Bundesliga rivals FC Union Berlin, where he has featured in several matches.
