Fortuna Düsseldorf drops Israeli striker deal amid fan backlash
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Shon Weissman has called for “wiping Gaza off the map” and dropping “200 tons of bombs” on the area.
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Israeli forward Shon Weissman reacts at the end of the UEFA Nations League - League B Group 2 - football match between "Israel" and Iceland at the Samy Ofer stadium in the Israeli-occupied city of Haifa on June 2, 2022 (AFP)
German second-division club Fortuna Düsseldorf has backed out of signing Israeli striker Shon Weissman following strong backlash from fans over social media posts related to the war on Gaza, according to Bild.
The controversy erupted when news broke that Weissman was set to transfer from Granada CF to Fortuna Düsseldorf. Despite having already arrived in the city and completed a medical, the club announced on Tuesday via X that it had decided not to proceed with the signing.
While the official statement gave no reason, Bild reported the move was directly influenced by public outcry over Weissman’s previous comments.
'Wipe Gaza off the map'
Weissman made posts on social media calling for “wiping Gaza off the map” and dropping “200 tons of bombs” on the area. He also liked posts claiming there were “no innocents in Gaza.”
Although he later deleted the posts and claimed to regret them, Fortuna Düsseldorf fans contended his remarks were “disrespectful and discriminatory” and argued they contradicted the club’s values.
This is not the first time Weissman has faced backlash. He was previously the target of protests at Granada as well. Bild reported that Fortuna Düsseldorf and Weissman had prepared a joint apology to be released after his signing, but the deal was canceled before that could happen.
The war on Gaza has affected other footballers in Germany. Mainz previously terminated Anwar El Ghazi’s contract over pro-Palestinian social media posts, though he later won a wrongful dismissal case in court. Former Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui, now at Manchester United, also faced criticism for his comments but issued a public apology.
Fan influence in German football is particularly strong due to the country’s "50+1" rule, which ensures club members maintain majority control, giving supporters significant sway over major decisions like player signings.
