Dutch-Moroccan footballer Anwar El Ghazi announced on Friday that he had donated 500,000 euros to help Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip, following compensation from his former club Mainz.
In December 2023, the German outfit terminated its contract with the footballer, because of his support for Palestine, in the context of the war waged by the Israeli occupation.
Last month, the labor court in Mainz overturned the team’s decision. “After receiving my compensation today, I would like to make it clear that my legal battle with the club was not, for me, about money,” the player wrote on his Instagram page.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mainz for two things. Firstly, for donating some of the money, 500,000 euros of which will go towards projects for the children of Gaza,” he added.
In his publication, Anwar El Ghazi said that “despite repeated unsuccessful attempts” by his club to “avoid paying the amount due”, he hopes that the outfit “now knows that it has contributed financially, through [him], to trying to make life more bearable for the children of Gaza”.
“Secondly, in its attempt to silence me, [my former club] has made my voice louder in favor of the oppressed and those who have none in Gaza,” the player further stated.
After his dismissal was made official, Anwar El Ghazi previously reaffirmed on his social networks that he had no regrets about his stance.
“Standing up for what’s right means standing up for what’s right even when you’re on your own. Losing my livelihood is in no way comparable to the hell being unleashed on innocent people in Gaza”, he wrote.
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