A German labour court has ruled that Mainz wrongfully terminated Anwar El Ghazi’s contract after he shared a series of pro-Palestine posts via social media.

Mainz suspended and re-introduced El Ghazi into the squad after his initial posts in October 2023, which called for an end to the violence in Gaza, stating the player “regretted” his comments. But El Ghazi responded soon after saying Mainz released this statement without his permission while clarifying his stance against the violence on innocent civilians in the conflict. A decision which led Mainz to unlawfully dismiss the Dutchman in November.

After a nine-month legal dispute, a judge has ruled that Mainz had no grounds to end El Ghazi's contract based on any of his posts.

This verdict isn’t just a win for El Ghazi, it represents a win for all athletes who are brave enough to use their platforms to speak out about injustice.

Players are already discouraged by wider society not to raise awareness about issues outside of football. But El Ghazi’s victory is proof that players can challenge clubs, rise above threats and stand up for what they believe in - and still come out on top.

Last month, El Ghazi hosted a ‘Children of Gaza’ friendly game with charity Nujum Sports. It marked the first time a UK-based charity match involving current and ex-pro players had been organised to raise funds for Gaza.