by Divi Flow | Nov 13, 2025 | Sports
German club Mainz have lost a court appeal against a verdict for wrongful dismissal by Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi.
The Bundesliga side terminated El Ghazi’s contract in November 2023 following a series of social media posts he made about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
In July 2024, a German court ruled this to be a wrongful termination and the player’s statements fell within the scope of freedom of expression.
Mainz appealed, but the Rhineland-Palatinate State Labor Court upheld its original decision on Wednesday.
“We have to accept the court’s decision,” said club chairman Stefan Hofmann.
“However, we stand by our position: Based on the values and convictions that define Mainz 05, the continued employment of individuals who express and behave in fundamental contradiction to these values will remain out of the question.”
El Ghazi was originally suspended by Mainz on 17 October, following a social media post which included the controversial phrase “from the river to the sea” – a pro-Palestinian message which critics say implies the destruction of Israel.
But that interpretation is disputed by some pro-Palestinian activists who say most people chanting it are calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza, not the destruction of Israel itself.
Mainz said El Ghazi’s post “took a position on the conflict in the Middle East in a manner that wasn’t tolerable for the club”.
The former Ajax, Lille, Aston Villa, Everton forward returned to the squad three days later, saying he stood “for peace above everything”.
El Ghazi then revealed, however, he had not authorised a club statement confirming his return and Mainz subsequently terminated the contract “in response to the player’s statements and posts on social media”.
Following his victory in court last year, El Ghazi pledged 500,000 euros (£441,000) of his pay-off from the club to “fund projects for the children in Gaza” affected by the conflict.
“I hope Mainz, despite their repeated failed attempts to avoid making the due payment, take solace from the knowledge that they have, through me, contributed financially in trying to make life a little more bearable for the children of Gaza,” said El Ghazi in July 2024.
The 30-year-old joined Cardiff City after leaving Mainz, but now plays for Al-Sailiya in Qatar.
by Divi Flow | Nov 13, 2025 | Sports
Jannik Sinner drove Alexander Zverev to distraction with a composed performance to reach the knockout stages of the ATP Finals.
The Italian second seed maintained his bid for the year-end world number one ranking with a 6-4 6-3 win over third seed Zverev.
Sinner saved all seven break points he faced with his immense serve, with one ace leaving his 28-year-old German opponent biting his racquet in frustration.
The four-time major champion, 24, is the first player to reach the semi-finals in Turin.
Sinner must defend his title and hope rival Carlos Alcaraz loses his final group match against Lorenzo Musetti on Thursday and does not reach the final.
Earlier, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime kept his campaign alive with a 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 success over big-serving American Ben Shelton, who is now eliminated.
In many ways, this match was the epitome of the gap between world’s best Sinner, Alcaraz and the rest.
Zverev served well, created multiple opportunities and hung with Sinner for much of the match – and still ended up losing in straight sets.
Every time he had a break point, the Italian would simply slam down an ace or a service winner. The German would have the upper hand in a rally and immediately become too passive, allowing Sinner to unleash and take control of the point.
Zverev had two break points in the first game of the match and an opportunity in three of Sinner’s five second-set service games, and each one was saved.
There were moments when he used his forehand to outpace Sinner, but they were few and far between.
Sinner finished with 28 winners to 14 unforced errors, having dropped just eight points behind his first serve.
“I felt like I was serving very well in the important moments. I tried to play the best tennis possible when it mattered,” he said.
“Sascha played great tennis and I am very pleased with how I handled it.”
by Divi Flow | Nov 13, 2025 | Sports
England captain Ben Stokes must “respect” the views of former players says ex-skipper Michael Vaughan, after Stokes described some of his critics as “has-beens”.
Vaughan, former captain Graham Gooch and legendary all-rounder Lord Botham have been among those to question England’s preparation for first Ashes Test next week.
Speaking on Wednesday morning, Stokes defended the decision to have a solitary warm-up match – an in-house game against England Lions – saying “we can’t prepare how the has-beens maybe prepared”.
Writing in the Telegraph,, external Vaughan said: “England have to accept that there will be scrutiny.
“Just because the ‘has-beens’ have a different view does not mean these are not valid comments. England should respect those views.
“They are coming from legends of the game who can’t play any more because they are too old, but that doesn’t mean they don’t desperately want England to win.
“They are saying these things because they are concerned, and see the risk.”
England’s three-day warm-up against their development side begins on Thursday. The first Test against Australia starts eight days later on 21 November.
Stokes’ side have been training in Perth this week and their approach is similar to their preparations for their five previous overseas tours under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. England have won the first Test of those series on each occasion.
But it differs from many previous Ashes tours, when England played several warm-up games. Botham said it “borders on arrogance”, Vaughan called it a “huge risk” and Gooch labelled it “glorified practice”.
Stokes responded by saying “cricket has changed so much” and pointed to the busier calendar, plus the fact the ongoing Australian domestic season would have impacted the quality of opponents, as reasons not to have an extended build-up.
“There are quite a few factors that go into why we can’t prepare how the has-beens maybe prepared in the past,” he said.
“We’re very comfortable with how we prepare because we leave no stone unturned.”
by Divi Flow | Nov 13, 2025 | Sports
Manchester United’s victory over Paris St-Germain was a significant one – but conversation before, during and after the Women’s Champions League match was dominated by goalkeepers.
Mary Earps’ long-awaited return to Old Trafford was the talk of Manchester – not just because of her stature as a player – but because of the controversy surrounding the release of her autobiography and the subsequent fallout.
She started in goal for French visitors PSG but her successor as Manchester United’s number one, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, was a surprise omission from Marc Skinner’s squad with a facial injury.
It meant just a second United start for 21-year-old Safia Middleton-Patel – her first club appearance in Europe and Old Trafford debut – with big boots to fill.
‘I believed in Middleton-Patel’
News of Tullis-Joyce’s absence was passed on to United’s players on matchday, with Middleton-Patel thrust into one of the club’s biggest games this season at short notice.
In front of 14,667 at Old Trafford – their biggest crowd this season – she was tasked with keeping out a PSG side who had reached four of the past five semi-finals in the competition.
Two minutes in, she was given a sharp reminder of where she was when Jennifer Echegini’s powerful effort bounced back off the inside of her left post.
This is a competition for Europe’s elite and was a step up from Middleton-Patel’s only previous appearance for United – a Women’s League Cup fixture against second-tier side Newcastle United.
However, she did represent Wales at this summer’s Euros – experience which clearly stood her in good stead on this stage.
“She was my player of the match. What you can’t measure is the psychological magnitude she has had to jump,” Skinner said of her display.
“From that performance [against Newcastle] to this, how she has matured over the last year, is credit to her and the staff.
“She was just stood at the tunnel [at full-time] and taking it in. Really well done to her. She deserves to stand out.”
Middleton-Patel quickly settled in, showing her pedigree with a brilliant second-half save to push Anais Ebayilin’s strike on to the post and out for a corner.
It came just a minute after half-time, shortly after Olga Carmona had equalised for PSG to make it 1-1. United went on to regain their lead through Fridolina Rolfo, adding to Melvine Malard’s superb early opener.
“When I found out Phallon wasn’t going to start the game, I said I believed in her. I wanted Safia to be herself,” added Skinner.
“She is a good footballer so she calms the build-up. She took it in her stride. I’m honestly really proud of her.
“She had a few nerves and I think [United forward] Rachel Williams did some star jumps with her so she got the energy out. But she took it really well.
“She will always be part of the history in our first Champions League game at Old Trafford. She deserves that romantic part, because that’s lovely.”