Bayern Munich decides not to sanction Noussair Mazraoui for pro-Palestine social media posts
Fri, Oct 20, 2023
Soccer News (AP)
MUNICH (AP) - Bayern Munich has decided not to sanction Noussair Mazraoui after the Morocco right back expressed support for Palestine on social media.
The German club said Friday that it had a "detailed and clarifying conversation with Noussair Mazraoui this week" after the 25-year-old player reportedly shared several posts on Instagram in support of Palestinians and against terrorism, hate and violence.
"Mazraoui has credibly assured us that as a peace-loving person he resolutely rejects terror and war and he never meant to?cause any irritation with his posts," Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen said. "FC Bayern condemns Hamas' attack on Israel."
Bayern quoted Mazraoui as saying, "I condemn all terrorism and terrorist organizations."
The club said it "stands by Germany's Jewish community and by Israel's side; nothing justifies the murder of children and families."
Bayern's decision not to suspend Mazraoui stands in contrast to league rival Mainz, which suspended Dutch forward Anwar El Ghazi for what it said was an "unacceptable" social media post about the Israel-Hamas war.
French club Nice also suspended Algeria defender Youcef Atal on Wednesday after he reportedly reposted and then deleted a video in which a Palestinian preacher made an antisemitic statement.
Mazraoui, who joined Bayern in a free transfer from Ajax in 2022, has started in seven of the team's 10 competitive games this season, going on as substitute in another. Coach Thomas Tuchel has a shortage of options at right back following Benjamin Pavard's transfer to Inter Milan and Josip Stanisic's departure on loan to Bayer Leverkusen.
Mazraoui will miss Bayern's game against Mainz on Saturday, however, after the Bavarian club said he returned from international duty with an unspecified injury.
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