Anwar el Ghazi: Winger suspended by Mainz over Israel-Gaza post
- Published
Anwar El Ghazi has played three league games for Mainz since joining in the summer
Dutch winger Anwar el Ghazi has been suspended from training and games by his club side Mainz for a social media post about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The 28-year-old has since deleted the post which his club felt was "unacceptable".
Bundesliga club Mainz said El Ghazi "took a position on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that was deemed unacceptable by the club".
Former Aston Villa and Everton winger El Ghazi joined Mainz in September.
He has played three league games for club after joining on a free transfer.
In a statement, external on Tuesday, the club said: "Prior to making this decision, the club and the player had engaged in an in-depth discussion.
"Mainz 05 respect the fact that there are varying perspectives on the decades-long, complex conflict in the Middle East.
"However, the club are distancing themselves from the content of the social media post in question, as it does not align with the values of the club."
Bayern Munich are reportedly, external scheduled to meet full-back Noussair Mazraoui after the Morocco international shared a pro-Palestinian video on Instagram.
In a statement, the club told the DPA German news agency: "Bayern immediately contacted Noussair Mazraoui after his Instagram posts on Sunday.
"After his return [from national team duty], a detailed personal meeting with the club's management in Munich is planned."
BBC Sport has contacted Mainz and Bayern for comment.
Elsewhere, Nice defender Youcef Atal is being investigated by prosecutors in France after allegedly posting an antisemitic video on social media relating to the conflict in Israel and Gaza.