Football anti-Israel posts
Freedom of expression or sedition? – Football walks a fine line
As of: 5:54 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
According to pro-Palestine post – FSV Mainz 05 releases El Ghazi
Bundesliga soccer team FSV Mainz 05 has released Anwar El Ghazi from training and games after a pro-Palestine post. In it, El Ghazi “took a position on the conflict in the Middle East in a way that was intolerable for the club,” the club said.
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What else is freedom of expression and what could possibly be sedition? Footballers raise questions with posts about the Middle East conflict. Dealing with this correctly is a challenge for your clubs.
Next weekend, tens of thousands of people and all Bundesliga players will remember the victims of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israeli civilians in the stadiums. The minute’s silence recommended by the German Football Association and the German Football League because of the terrible images of the Middle East conflict will ensure a moment of silence. According to pro-Palestinian contributions from players, the highly complicated situation has long since become a major challenge for the clubs and dealing with it is difficult.
“The constitutionally protected freedom of expression is particularly limited when crimes such as insults or incitement are committed,” said Ulf Baranowsky from the Association of Contractual Football Players (VDV) to the German Press Agency on Monday. “The extent to which there are criminal violations and whether labor law sanctions are legally compliant must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.” Particularly in military conflicts, public figures should live up to their role as role models, said Baranowsky. “The goal must be to de-escalate and create lasting peace.”
In the past few days, professionals Anwar El Ghazi from 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Noussair Mazraoui from FC Bayern Munich, among others, have caused a stir and criticism with posts on social media. The former German national player Mesut Özil and the ex-world footballer Karim Benzema, who moved from Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia in the summer, also commented on the conflict with a clear pro-Palestinian tendency.
Ulf Baranowsky, managing director of the VDV players’ union, holds the football clubs responsible
Source: dpa/David Inderlied
The footballers’ contributions raise many questions. El Ghazi has already been released from playing and training at his club. “Mainz 05 respects that there are different perspectives on the complex Middle East conflict that has been going on for decades,” said the Rheinhessen. “However, the club distances itself from the content of the post as it does not go hand in hand with the values of our club.” Bayern had announced that they wanted to have a conversation with the Moroccan Nazraoui after his return from the international trip this week.
Dealing with the slogan “Free Palestine”
The judicial authorities are investigating Youcef Atal from the French club OGC Nice. The Algerian international is suspected of having publicly supported terrorism. The 27-year-old was suspended by his club because of his pro-Palestine post.
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In many cases, the use of the slogan “Free Palestine” causes debate – also because it allows for different interpretations. “The problem is that these players, who earn millions, don’t understand the meaning of “Free Palestine,” said Alon Meyer, president of the German-Jewish Makkabi Sports Association, on Sky. “The solidarity with the people in Palestine that you might want to show with a post like this is perfectly fine,” said Meyer. However, “Free Palestine” means “a free Palestine from the river to the sea against Israel’s right to exist and that just doesn’t work.”
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As a rule, the clubs explicitly point out to their players that they do not appear on social media as private individuals, but rather as representatives of their employer and should therefore not become active there in a way that is detrimental to the club. However, it is almost impossible to prepare yourself contractually for all possible cases. Which leads to the question: What should still be tolerated and what should be sanctioned? If a player approves of acts of war, there may be criminal consequences for him. If he only shares certain views, the clubs’ discretion is more important – and this is sometimes huge.
“Prevention is also important,” said VdV President Baranowsky. “Especially in sport, it is important to sensitize young people at an early stage and to talk to them when problems arise.” The billion-dollar industry of professional football is feeling this particularly strongly these days.
