Club rescinds contract offer for Israeli forward following fan protests
In a surprising turn of events, Bundesliga side Fortuna Düsseldorf has decided against signing Israeli striker Shon Weissman, citing his controversial social media comments about the ongoing conflict in Gaza as the primary reason.
Weissman, who was on the verge of joining the club from Granada FC on Monday, had made inflammatory posts on social media following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. His statements, which included calls for the Gaza Strip to be "wiped out," sparked significant backlash and concerns over potential anti-Semitism-related tensions among fans and the broader public.
In his now-deleted posts, Weissman also expressed support for "victory" for "our oppressed brothers in Palestine" and liked posts saying "there are no innocents (in Gaza), they don't need to be warned." These comments, along with his previous statements, were found problematic enough by Fortuna Düsseldorf to retract the signing offer, despite Weissman's sporting credentials.
It's worth noting that Weissman's service in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) was mentioned as context in the discussions but was not the main reason for the decision.
This move by Fortuna Düsseldorf comes at a time when Germany, as it has sought to atone for the Holocaust, has long been a steadfast supporter of Israel. However, concern has risen sharply over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with more than 60,933 Palestinians reportedly killed according to figures from Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry.
German football fans, who hold significant influence in major decisions including signing players and setting fixtures due to the so-called 50+1 regulation, have been vocal in their opposition to Weissman's signing. In fact, Duesseldorf fans launched an online petition against his signing due to his "disrespectful and discriminatory" comments.
Meanwhile, former Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui, now with Manchester United, has also faced criticism for his social media posts on the conflict. Mazraoui publicly apologised after making several posts, including one calling for "victory" for "our oppressed brothers in Palestine."
In a separate incident, former Ajax and current West Ham United player Anwar El Ghazi was sacked by Bundesliga side Mainz in 2023 for statements made on social media about the conflict.
Fortuna Duesseldorf announced on Tuesday that they decided not to sign Shon Weissman to avoid controversy and negative reactions linked to his past remarks. Weissman later said he made a mistake and deleted the posts soon after making them. The club has not revealed the reasons for their decision not to sign Weissman.
- Fortuna Düsseldorf's decision not to sign Shon Weissman, amidst controversy over his inflammatory social media comments about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, highlights the increasing sensitivity in European leagues towards statements that could potentially stir anti-Semitism-related tensions.
- Aware of the importance of maintaining peace and respect in sports, German football fans, as powerful stakeholders, led an online petition against Weissman's signing due to his disrespectful and discriminatory comments about the conflict.
- Conversely, football players like Noussair Mazraoui and Anwar El Ghazi have faced criticism for their social media posts regarding the conflict, underlining the need for careful consideration and sensitivity in expressing opinions about sensitive global issues, even for prominent athletes.
