Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi has had his suspension lifted by Mainz and given an official warning after his social media post about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The former Aston Villa and Everton player, 28, was banned from training and matches on October 17 after a now-deleted post on social media that was perceived to be pro-Palestine.
Sources had told BBC Sport that the German club would terminate his contract.
But Mainz says they have now “opened the door for him to resume his duties”.
“Given his commitment to upholding the club’s values and the remorse shown, and in keeping with the club’s culture of using mistakes as an opportunity to learn, Anwar El Ghazi will return to training and matchday-related activities with 1. FSV Mainz 05 soon,” said the Bundesliga club.
It is understood that El Ghazi is back home in the Netherlands, and it is not yet clear when or if he will return.
Mainz said El Ghazi’s post “took a position on the conflict in the Middle East in a manner that wasn’t tolerable for the club”.
Mainz’ stadium is named after founding member Eugen Salomon, a Jewish man who was stripped of his club’s functions by the Nazis in 1933. Salomon died in the Holocaust in 1942.
An estimated six million Jews perished in the Holocaust, which Nazi Germany carried out during World War Two.
The club added: “El Ghazi has since distanced himself from his post on his Instagram account, which he deleted minutes later, in multiple conversations with the club. He regrets publishing the post and is remorseful about its negative impact, especially on the club as a whole.
“The club’s board made it clear to Anwar El Ghazi that employees of the club are bound to a code of values. Implicit in this code of values is a special responsibility to the state of Israel and the Jewish people, not only due to past events in German history but also stemming from the shared history with one of FSV’s founding members and members of the Jewish community, Eugen Salomon.”
El Ghazi signed for Mainz on a free transfer in the summer and has played three games this season.
Writing on Instagram stories last week, he said, “I condemn the killing of all innocent civilians in Palestine and Israel.
“My sympathies are with the innocent victims of this conflict, irrespective of their nationality. I am committed to a peaceful and integrated Middle Eastern region.
“To the extent my previous statements on social media have been misunderstood, I would like to make clear that I stand for peace and humanity for all.”
On Monday, General Consul of Israel for South Germany Talya Lador-Fresher met with club representatives at their home stadium.
“Football clubs have a great responsibility,” she said on X, formerly called Twitter.
“They serve as role models for many young people. In conversation with Mainz, we talked about hatred, hate speech, and anti-Semitism.
“A clear line against the massacre on October 7, 2023, is a clear line for our democratic values.”
