Court Rejects Mainz Appeal in Landmark Player Dismissal Case
German Bundesliga club FSV Mainz 05 has lost a crucial appeal relating to the controversial sacking of former Premier League winger Anwar El Ghazi. The Dutch international, who previously played for Aston Villa and Everton, saw his contract terminated by the German side in November 2023 following social media posts he made about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The Timeline of Events Leading to Dismissal
The dispute began in October 2023 when Mainz initially suspended El Ghazi after what they described as social media posts that "took a position on the conflict in the Middle East in a manner that wasn't tolerable for the club." According to the club's official statement, El Ghazi had posted an anti-Israel message immediately after the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.
Following an internal meeting where El Ghazi expressed remorse, the club issued a warning instead of immediate dismissal. However, the situation escalated when the player made another social media post that Mainz claimed contradicted their earlier consensus. This prompted the club to proceed with summary dismissal, terminating his contract without notice.
Legal Battle Culminates in Club Defeat
The case progressed through the German court system over the subsequent two years. In a significant ruling during the summer of 2024, the Mainz labor court declared the summary dismissal invalid, finding that El Ghazi had been wrongfully terminated.
Mainz 05 appealed this decision, but on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the Rhineland-Palatinate State Labor Court rejected their appeal. This means the initial ruling remains in effect, legally confirming the dismissal as unjustified.
The court determined that after objectively interpreting El Ghazi's posts and weighing the interests involved, freedom of expression outweighed the employer's interests in this specific case. Mainz has since paid the Dutch player his full contractually agreed salary for the period in question, amounting to substantial compensation.
Reactions and Aftermath
Mainz chairman Stefan Hoffmann acknowledged the court's decision while standing by the club's principles. "We have to accept the court's decision," Hoffmann stated, adding that employing individuals whose expressions contradict club values "will remain out of the question."
El Ghazi, who subsequently played for Cardiff City before moving to Qatari side Al Sailiya, had expressed confidence in a positive outcome ahead of the final ruling. In September, he wrote on social media about his gratitude toward those who supported him, specifically mentioning his family, lawyer Alexander Bergweiler, and organisation Nujum.
Following the initial summer 2024 ruling that required Mainz to pay his outstanding contract, El Ghazi pledged approximately £441,000 to support children in Gaza, stating he hoped the club would "take solace from the knowledge that they have, through me, contributed financially in trying to make life a little more bearable for the children of Gaza."
The case establishes an important precedent regarding employee freedom of expression versus employer rights in professional sports, particularly concerning politically sensitive topics.
