Fortune Düsseldorf, the German Second Division Club, gave up hiring Israeli striker Shon Weissman after protests from his fans on social networks due to the war in Gaza, the Bild newspaper reported on Tuesday (5).
Many fans were outraged when the information came that Weissman, who defends Spain Granada, was about to sign with the Düsseldorf club.
This Tuesday, Fortune published in X: “We analyzed Shon Weissman intensely, but in the end we decided not to hire it.” The club, however, did not explain the reasons for the decision.
The Bild newspaper reported that it was a response to fans’ discontent with the arrival of Weissman, who was already in Germany and had undergone medical examinations to sign the contract.
The 29 -year -old striker, who has 33 games for the Israeli team, published several messages on his social networks after the Hamas attack on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, in which 1,219 people died. This attack triggered the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which has already caused more than 60,000 people, according to official data.
Weissman asked in social networks that Israel “erased Gaza from the map” and “launch 200 tons of bombs” over Palestinian territory. “There are no innocents [em Gaza]they don’t have to be warned, “he wrote in another message.
The athlete later deleted the publications, saying it was a mistake he made in a moment of great tension.
But the German club fans launched a petition against their hiring on Monday because the “disrespectful and discriminatory” comments of the player “are contrary to the principles that the fortune Düsseldorf represents and tries to promote.”
Bild also reported that the club and the player had planned to publish an apology statement for these comments.
Weissman had already been the target of protests from Granada fans when he signed with the Spanish club in January 2023.
