The situation surrounding Anwar El Ghazi is keeping people busy in the Netherlands and Germany. The striker recently saw his contract torn up by 1. FSV Mainz 05 after speaking out on social media about the conflict between Hamas and Israel. It has now become known that the attacker will file a lawsuit. Football zone talked to former football player and analyst Ali Boussaboun, who fully supports El Ghazi.
When Mainz first spoke out about El Ghazi’s post, Boussaboun’s hair stood on end. “We always talk about freedom of expression in the West. That would be a great thing. But as soon as a player speaks out about genocide, because that is what it is, and says he is against any form of injustice, the club immediately takes action. the hind legs are standing.”
The situation in Gaza concerns Boussaboun. “These are war crimes being committed. Hospitals are being bombed, refugee camps, etc. If the founder of Mainz, a man with a Jewish background, saw what is going on at his club now, he would turn around in his grave.”
Mainz was once founded by a German Jew who died in Auschwitz. Boussaboun believes that the club should respect El Ghazi. “He speaks out against injustice. Injustice is injustice. But apparently there is a red line that you cannot cross. As soon as you speak out, there is anti-Semitism. I find that scandalous.”
VVCS
Boussaboun also points an accusing finger at the VVCS. The Association for Contract Players is an interest group for professional football players, but according to the former Feyenoord striker, it has openly failed. “Why hasn’t anyone come out with a statement? Why hasn’t anyone stood behind him?”
“He has not offended anyone, but they are nowhere to be seen. Where are they? I really blame the VVCS for letting him fall like that. There is now an investigation into that boy. For what? What did he say ? He has not offended anyone. The VVCS has shown its worst side. They have no spine and no balls.”
According to Boussaboun, the VVCS should contact the German association. “They should say, ‘What are you doing? Are we living in a democracy or is this a disguised dictatorship?’ That club too. They put out a statement as if it were his words. I have so much respect for El Ghazi. So much respect.”
World Cup in Saudi Arabia
Because the Netherlands chose not to vote on a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, making a statement about the upcoming World Cup in Saudi Arabia (2034) makes no sense, according to Boussaboun. “We have no right to talk about that.”
“Stop with human rights. Why don’t we stand up now because of what is happening in Palestine? Where are we? Where are all the moral crusaders who were at the forefront to condemn Qatar for banned flags? We are no longer allowed to talk about Saudi Arabia or Qatar. Why “We abstained from voting. The World Cup? Very important.”
Boussaboun states that the Netherlands is no better than Saudi Arabia. “We do business with Saudi Arabia. We earn a lot of money from that. That is already a reason not to open our mouths. The Netherlands has a good relationship with Saudi Arabia and they will never break it. There is too much there money involved. We are just as bad.”