Anwar El Ghazi wins unfair dismissal case against Mainz | OneFootball

A German labour court has rejected Mainz's latest attempt to challenge a prior ruling in Anwar El Ghazi's favour, leaving the decision legally binding.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the former Aston Villa winger first won his unfair termination case in July 2024, entitling him to more than 1.5 million euros.

El Ghazi joined the Bundesliga club in 2023. He was suspended after sharing a social media post using the phrase "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free".

Some view that slogan as a call for Israel's destruction, while others say it calls for equality for Palestinians and Israelis.

Mainz later said he could return if he distanced himself from the remarks, but he refused and said he did not regret them. The club then terminated his contract with immediate effect.

The court said freedom of expression outweighed the club's interests. After the verdict, El Ghazi wrote on X: "Time for the deluded decision makers at Mainz to give it a rest and pay up the remainder of my contract".

El Ghazi, a 2019 Championship play-off winner with Villa, has scored 26 goals in 119 games and is currently playing in Qatar.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com