Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui will not be suspended after his posts linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the club announced on Friday, claiming to have had an “in-depth conversation” and “clarifications” from the Moroccan international .
Following Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, which sparked a war between the Islamist movement and the Jewish state, the 25-year-old published several pro-Palestinian messages on the networks, which have since been deleted. One of them called for the “victory” of “our oppressed brothers in Palestine”.
Bayern got ‘clarifications’
On Friday, Bayern indicated in a press release that they had had an “in-depth conversation” with their defender and obtained “clarifications” regarding these posts which had “aroused irritation and criticism”.
Noussair Mazraoui “credibly assured us that he rejected terrorism and war” and “regrets if his posts have caused annoyance”, commented Jan-Christian Dreesen, the club’s general director. Himself quoted in the press release, the Moroccan international, semi-finalist of the last World Cup in Qatar, claims to condemn “any kind of terrorist attack and any terrorist organization”. He is therefore reinstated within the group, according to the text, even if the player is unavailable due to a recent injury contracted with Morocco. “I am very happy with the club’s statement, I support it 100%,” reacted coach Thomas Tuchel.
In addition to conversations with Mazraoui, Tuchel said he spoke with Bayern Munich’s Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. It was “absolutely our duty to talk to him and see how he’s doing,” he said, also ensuring that there was no conflict in the locker room on the subject.
El Ghazi and Atal suspended
Opponent of Bayern Munich on Saturday in the Bundesliga, Mainz has on the other hand decided to suspend its striker Anwar El Ghazi for an indefinite period due to “unacceptable” comments on this conflict made by the player on social networks.
In France, Nice also announced to suspend its defender Youcef Atal, targeted by a preliminary investigation for “apology of terrorism” after a publication, quickly deleted, linked to the conflict and described as anti-Semitic and calling for violence by his accusers. The Algerian international has since apologized, but the club explained that it had chosen to “immediately” take sanctions, “prior” to those that could be taken by sporting or legal authorities, “taking into account the nature of the publication shared and its seriousness.