Mainz lose court appeal over El Ghazi wrongful dismissal

"German club Mainz have lost a court appeal against a verdict for wrongful dismissal by Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi. The Bundesliga side terminated El Ghazi's contract in November 2023 following a series of social media posts he made about the Israel-Gaza conflict. In July 2024, a German court ruled this to be a wrongful termination and the player's statements fell within the scope of freedom of expression. Mainz appealed, but the Rhineland-Palatinate State Labor Court upheld its original decision on Wednesday."

""We have to accept the court's decision," said club chairman Stefan Hofmann. "However, we stand by our position: Based on the values and convictions that define Mainz 05, the continued employment of individuals who express and behave in fundamental contradiction to these values will remain out of the question." El Ghazi was originally suspended by Mainz on 17 October, following a social media post which included the controversial phrase "from the river to the sea" - a pro-Palestinian message which critics say implies the destruction of Israel."

"The former Ajax, Lille, Aston Villa, Everton forward returned to the squad three days later, saying he stood "for peace above everything". El Ghazi then revealed, however, he had not authorised a club statement confirming his return and Mainz subsequently terminated the contract "in response to the player's statements and posts on social media". Following his victory in court last year, El Ghazi pledged 500,000 euros (441,000) of his pay-off from the club to "fund projects for the chi"

Mainz terminated Anwar El Ghazi's contract in November 2023 after social media posts about the Israel-Gaza conflict. A German court ruled in July 2024 that the termination was wrongful and that the player's statements fell within the scope of freedom of expression. Mainz appealed the ruling and the Rhineland-Palatinate State Labor Court upheld the earlier decision. Club chairman Stefan Hofmann said the club must accept the ruling but reiterated that continued employment of individuals whose expressions fundamentally contradict Mainz 05's values would remain unacceptable. El Ghazi briefly returned to the squad before the contract termination was finalised.

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