Football club Fortuna Düsseldorf rejects signing Israeli forward Shon Weissman due to his contentious anti-Gaza publications
In a surprising turn of events, German second-division club Fortuna Düsseldorf has decided not to hire Israeli striker Shon Weissman, following a wave of public backlash over his controversial social media posts related to the Gaza Strip conflict.
Weissman, who currently plays for Granada in Spain, had made comments after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that were interpreted as calling for the destruction of Gaza. His posts, which included statements like "wipe Gaza off the map" and endorsing extreme violence, had already drawn significant criticism[1][2][3][4].
Despite initially passing medical tests and nearing contract finalization, Fortuna Düsseldorf faced protests from sections of their fanbase, including concerns about the local Muslim population. As fan hostility escalated, the club held an emergency meeting and officially called off the deal[1][2][3].
Weissman had also planned to apologize for his posts but found the contract voided hours before joining team training[2]. His agent defended him by stating that the controversial publications were not his, but rather his social media manager's. However, the club's stance remained firm in the face of public pressure.
Some fans launched petitions against the signing of Weissman, as reported by the German daily Bild. Posts opposing the signing multiplied, stating that these "values have no place in the club". The German club initially defended Weissman on Monday night, stating that judging strangers based on their Wikipedia page doesn't reflect their values.
The decision not to hire Weissman was made due to his hostile remarks about Gaza and intense pressure from fans. The club's statement emphasised that these views were inconsistent with their values and community sentiment[1][2][3][4].
This incident serves as a reminder of the power of public opinion and the importance of upholding values that promote peace and understanding.
References: [1] https://www.dw.com/en/fortuna-duesseldorf-cancels-israeli-striker-shon-weissmans-signing/a-62037611 [2] https://www.thejc.com/news/world/fortuna-duesseldorf-cancels-deal-for-shon-weissman-after-gaza-war-remarks-1.536476 [3] https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/fortuna-duesseldorf-shon-weissman-gaza-israel-b1939559.html [4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/6/german-club-cancels-deal-for-israeli-footballer-shon-weissman-over-gaza-comments
- The controversial comments made by footballer Shon Weissman about the Gaza Strip conflict in a social media post led to intense public pressure, resulting in German club Fortuna Düsseldorf deciding not to hire him.
- In the face of mounting criticism and a wave of protests from fans, Fortuna Düsseldorf canceled the deal to sign Shon Weissman, citing values that promote peace and understanding.
- The cancellation of the contract for Shon Weissman, who plays for Granada in Spain, highlights the influence of general-news and politics, including the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, on sports and the decisions made by clubs.
- Beyond football, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being cautious about expressing controversial opinions in the digital age, given the impact such sentiments can have on public perception and consequently, individual opportunities.
