Former Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi suspended over Israel and Gaza social media post

The 28-year-old Netherlands international has since deleted the post, which referenced “genocide and mass destruction” and ended with the line: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

El Ghazi, who scored 26 goals in more than 118 appearances for Villa between 2018 and 2022, only joined the Bundesliga club last month.

In a statement, Mainz said they and El Ghazi had engaged in an “in-depth discussion” before the decision to suspend him from training and matches was taken.

It explained: "The decision comes as a result of a since-deleted social media post from the 28-year-old that appeared on Sunday evening.

"In the post, El Ghazi took a position on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that was deemed unacceptable by the club.

"Prior to making this decision, the club and the player had engaged in an in-depth discussion.

"Mainz 05 respect the fact that there are varying perspectives on the decades-long, complex conflict in the Middle East.

"However, the club are distancing themselves from the content of the social media post in question, as it does not align with the values of the club."

After deleting his original message, El Ghazi sought to clarify his intentions with another post on Twitter.

He wrote: “I recently received some negative messages around my social media posts.

“I want to make it clear that I’m standing for peace above everything. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all the innocent victims, and those who are still missing, as well as the communities who are affected by this situation.

“Every individual, be it in Palestine or elsewhere, has the right to security, a loving home, and opportunities to grow. I’m calling for more empathy, deepening our knowledge about the history of this conflict is vital before we hate and slander all those who have spoken about the injustices in Palestine.”