A German court ruled in favor of the Dutch international player of Moroccan descent, Anwar El Ghazi, against Mainz club after his contract was terminated in 2023 due to his posts supporting Palestine following the events of October 7.

The court affirmed that the player's freedom of expression takes precedence over the employer's interests, deeming the decision to terminate the contract as incorrect.

The court obliged the club to pay 1.7 million euros in overdue salaries to El Ghazi, following the club's failed appeal against the decision. This case is one of the most prominent that sparked widespread debate about players' political stances within European clubs and the relationship between sports and politics.

For his part, Ghazi reiterated his commitment to supporting Palestine via the X platform, criticizing his former club's management and emphasizing the need to direct funds towards supporting "noble" humanitarian causes, foremost among them being the support of children in Gaza.

The player concluded his message with a strong statement, saying: "Free Palestine," in a stance that garnered widespread attention from the media and the public.