Soccer Players Anwar El Ghazi, Youcef Atal Suspended for Israel-Hamas War Remarks

Football players Anwar El Ghazi and Youcef Atal have been suspended from their respective clubs for their alleged support for the Palestinian cause in light of the Israel-Hamas War.

(Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Anwar El Ghazi of PSV in action during the UEFA Europa League Group A match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC at Philips Stadium on October 27, 2022, in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Mainz Calls El Ghazi's 'Unacceptable' Social Media Post

According to the Associated Press, the Bundesliga team Mainz has suspended El Ghazi, a 28-year-old Dutch player of Moroccan descent, of his "training and matchday related duties" because of a post he shared last Sunday (October 15) which has since been deleted.

Former Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi has been suspended by German club Mainz for posting a pro-Palestinian Instagram story.

Just one month after his arrival, the Dutch forward has been released for an “intolerable position” according to the club as the phrase “From the River… pic.twitter.com/pRbC2D9RVy
— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) October 18, 2023

"In the post, El Ghazi stated an opinion on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that was deemed unacceptable by the club," Mainz said on its website. "Prior to making this decision, the club and the player had engaged in an in-depth discussion."

The club has not specified what the post contained, nor whether the player would return to play for the club.

"Please understand that we will not comment further beyond the official statement," Mainz spokesperson Silke Bannick also told reporters on Wednesday (October 18).

(Photo: NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images)
Nice's Algerian defender Youcef Atal shoots the ball during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Toulouse FC at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on May 21, 2023.

Atal Suspended by Nice for 'Antisemitic' Message

In a separate AP report, the French Ligue 1 (L1) club Nice suspended Algerian player Youcef Atal, 27, on Wednesday until further notice after he allegedly shared an antisemitic message by a Palestinian preacher on social media.

"The player acknowledged his error by quickly withdrawing the sharing of the publication and has offered a written and public apology," the club said in a statement.

Nevertheless, the club added, they have decided to suspend Atal indefinitely "given the nature of the publication shared."

Atal's suspension came after the Nice public prosecutor's office opened a preliminary investigation on Monday (October 16) targeting him on charges of "defending terrorism" for sharing the message online. The prosecutor's office added that Atal was also being investigated for "public incitement to hatred or violence because of a particular religion."

French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo also said Atal relayed "appeals for violence" and that the case would be handled by the federation's ethics committee.

In response, Atal took to Instagram that he understood that his post was shocking to some people, but said he condemned all forms of violence "no matter where in the world."