No Bayern sanctions for Mazraoui over pro-Palestine posts

Bayern Munich have decided not to sanction defender Noussair Mazraoui after the Moroccan international expressed his support for the Palestinians on social media.

The German club said in a statement on Friday that they had “a detailed and clarifying conversation with Noussair Mazraoui this week” after the 25-year-old allegedly shared several posts on Instagram in support of the Palestinians and against terrorism, hatred and violence .

Mazraoui credibly assured us that as a peace-loving man, he resolutely rejected terrorism and war and that he never intended to cause any irritation with his duties,” he said. said Bayern general manager Jan-Christian Dreesen. “FC Bayern condemns Hamas attack on Israel.”

Bayern quoted Mazraoui as saying: “I condemn all terrorism and terrorist organizations.”

The club said it “stands with the Jewish community of Germany and Israel; nothing justifies the murder of children and families.”

Bayern’s decision not to suspend Mazraoui contrasts with that of rival Mainz, which suspended striker Anwar El Ghazi for what it called an “unacceptable” social media post about the war between Israel and Hamas .

French club Nice also suspended Algerian defender Youcef Atal on Wednesday for a social media post about the war between Israel and Hamas.

Mazraoui, who joined Bayern on a free transfer from Ajax in 2022, has started in seven of the team’s 10 matches this season.

Mazraoui will, however, miss Bayern’s match against Mainz on Saturday after the Bavarian club announced he was returning from international duty with an unspecified injury.