Reaction to Palestine posts
FC Bayern finally comments on the Mazraoui case
October 20, 2023, 10:26 a.m
Moroccan football professional Noussair Mazraoui reacts to Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israeli civilians with a pro-Palestinian post. His employer – FC Bayern Munich – asks for an interview. Apparently there are no consequences.
FC Bayern Munich has dealt with the “Mazraoui case” internally and has apparently closed it. After a conversation with the Moroccan national player, who made pro-Palestinian posts after the terrorist attack by the radical Islamic Hamas on Israel that left more than 1,000 dead civilians, the record champions said in a statement: “Noussair Mazraoui has credibly assured us that he is a peace-loving person Resolutely rejects terrorism and war.” The defender will remain in the squad and there is no question of possible sanctions.
“FC Bayern condemns Hamas’ attack on Israel,” CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen is quoted in the statement. “Furthermore,” Mazraoui declared, “I condemn every type of terrorism and every terrorist organization.” Mazraoui had distributed a video on social networks wishing the Palestinians a victory in the conflict with Israel. The 25-year-old also shared a short clip in which a voice says in the style of a prayer: “God, help our oppressed brothers in Palestine to achieve victory. May God give grace to the dead, may God heal their wounded.”
FC Bayern Munich announced “a detailed personal conversation” on Monday while Mazraoui was still with the Moroccan national team. The result of the conversation was that “FC Bayern and Noussair Mazraoui resolutely oppose the transfer of the Middle East conflict and its violence to Germany, which is committed to peace. Hatred and violence of any kind have no place in Germany’s political culture .”
Shortly after the Hamas attack became known, FC Bayern wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that they were worried about their friends in Israel. In an initial reaction to his post, Mazraoui said: “The point is that I strive for peace and justice in this world. This means that I will always be against all kinds of terrorism, hatred and violence.” He doesn’t understand “why people think the opposite about me and why I’m associated with hateful groups.”
The Central Council of Jews had described Mazraoui’s statement as inadequate. “The player Noussair Mazraoui’s post is an unspeakable derailment,” the association wrote in a statement. It was noted that the Moroccan national soccer player subsequently distanced himself from any terrorist organizations. “Unfortunately, Mazraoui continues to fail to clearly condemn Hamas’ barbarism,” criticized the Central Council.
Just at the beginning of the week, 1.FSV Mainz 05, a Bundesliga club, released its professional Anwar El Ghazi from training and games. He reported this Club on its social media channels. In his post, El Ghazi “took a position on the conflict in the Middle East in a way that was intolerable for the club,” said Rheinhessen. The exemption was preceded by a detailed discussion between the board and the player.
“Mainz 05 respects that there are different perspectives on the complex Middle East conflict that has been going on for decades. 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,” it continued. El Ghazi had shared a post with the slogan “From river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which denies the state of Israel the right to exist.