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Rabat – German media outlets have directed harsh criticism and serious accusations towards Moroccan footballer Noussair Mazraoui, who plays for German club Bayern Munich, after he expressed support for Palestine amid escalating violence against Palestinians from Israel.
In an article titled “Supporter of Terrorism on the Pitch? Unbearable!,” German sports outlet Bild accused Mazraoui of “supporting terrorism and the mass death of innocent people.”
In addition, Bild questioned the appropriateness of a player openly supporting Palestine during a moment when the Bundesliga was planning a memorial action for Israelis who died due to the conflict.
The ongoing cycle of violence has claimed the lives of 2,750 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis over the past week. In addition, the Israeli military caused massive destruction in the Gaza Strip, and cut off electric, food, water, and fuel supplies to what many describe as the “world’s largest open-air prison.”
The German outlet demanded that Mazraoui distance himself from the “bloodshed caused by Hamas” and explain his endorsement of certain viewpoints calling for the annihilation of Israel.
Read also: France Controversially Warns of Consequences for Supporting Palestinian Resistance
It went further to state that if Mazraoui failed to provide a convincing disassociation, he should be prevented from playing in the league.
“A supporter of terrorism can never be a role model,” the outlet said.
The publication’s stance has faced widespread criticism for infringing on the freedom of speech and expression of players, and for its bias in the way it characterized the conflict.
Critics argued that athletes should not be penalized for their political views and that their ability to play should not be influenced by their stance on a geopolitical issue.
In addition, criticism has been directed at Bild and other western outlets’ double standards for describing Hamas and Palestinian resistance fighters as terrorists while sympathizing with Israel and ignoring its war crimes.
Critics argued that this framing overlooks the larger context of the Israeli occupation and the oppression and violence inflicted on Palestinians for decades.
