Anwar El Ghazi wins unfair dismissal case against Mainz over 2023 pro-Palestinian post | OneFootball

Anwar El Ghazi has definitively won his unfair dismissal case against Mainz, two and a half years after a pro-Palestinian social media post.

In July 2024, the club was ordered to pay at least 1.5 million euros in compensation and reinstate the former Lille winger, according to SID.

A local labour court on Thursday rejected Mainz's final attempt to mount an appeal against a previous ruling, with judges deciding that freedom of expression outweighed the club's interests.

The Netherlands international, capped twice, was suspended after a 17 October 2023 Instagram post backing Palestinians that ended with the from the river to the sea slogan. The phrase is seen by some as a call for Israel's destruction, and by others as a demand for equal rights.

He reaffirmed his stance on 1 November, saying he had no regrets, and the club then terminated his contract with immediate effect. Signed in September 2023, he later criticised Mainz's appeal efforts on X and urged leaders to pay the remainder of his deal, pledging to donate the money to causes aiding children in Gaza.

El Ghazi made 44 appearances for Lille between 2017 and 2019. He joined Cardiff City in 2024 before moving to Al-Sailiya in 2025.

Source: L'Équipe