Mainz lose another legal battle in Anwar El Ghazi backpay dispute | OneFootball

Another ruling in the case of former FSV Mainz 05 professional Anwar El Ghazi looks to put the Bundesliga outfit on the hook for an additional €800,000. A Rhineland Palatinate regional court, after hearing arguments in El Ghazi’s second lawsuit for back-pay, has suggested Mainz settle the matter with a compromise payment. Mainz have already paid El Ghazi approximately €1.5m following a previous ruling last autumn.

El Ghazi joined Mainz on a free transfer from PSV Eindhoven in late September 2023. The Dutch international with Moroccan roots nevertheless only ended up making three substitute appearances for the Rheinhessen before a controversial social media post led to the termination of his contract. El Ghazi published a pro Palestinian post calling for Palestinian statehood “from the river to the Sea“.

Such a statement implies that the state of Israel does not have a right to exist. Under German federal law, such speech is not protected. Mainz – who like many German footballing clubs – were reconstructed after the second World War with the help of Jewish members and functionaries – were not impressed when El Ghazi resisted attempts by the club to suspend and discipline him in the matter.

Mainz initially issued a statement that El Ghazi was remorseful and apologetic about the post. El Ghazi vehemently denied this on the very same instagram post that he published the initial post on. After this occurred, Mainz unilaterally opted to terminate El Ghazi’s contract. The player then proceeded to file suit in a Palatinate district labor court. The court has now twice ruled in El Ghazi’s favor.

El Ghazi’s Mainz contract originally ran until July 2025. The previous lawsuit held that El Ghazi was entitled to the €1.5m in lost wages for the duration of the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign. At the time, lawyers representing Mainz successfully argued that – since El Ghazi had signed on with then EFL Championship side Cardiff City – Mainz were not required to reimburse El Ghazi’s lost wages for the 2024/25 campaign.

The latest countersuit filed by El Ghazi argued that, since the player was paid less by the Welsh outfit, Mainz were also responsible to cover the wage difference from the 2024/25 season. Presiding Palatinate judge Andreas Budroweit has issued a decree calling for an €800,000 settlement.

The two sides will now see if they can come to agreement over a figure around that number or take the risk of appealing of the latest ruling. Mainz have not issued public comment yet.

It does count as likely that the German club – operating well financially – will simple pay and put the matter behind them. El Ghazi himself has signed with Qatari outfit Al-Sailiya this year.

GGFN | Peter Weis