German second-division soccer club Fortuna Düsseldorf on Tuesday canceled its planned signing of Israeli national team striker Shon Weissman, citing public backlash from supporters who condemned the player’s political views as extreme.
Weissman, 29, had reportedly finalized terms with the club and passed a medical exam earlier this week, but was unexpectedly instructed not to report to Tuesday morning training. The club’s management, which had held weeks of negotiations with the player, convened an emergency meeting and informed his representatives that the deal was being called off.
“We conducted a thorough review of the player, but ultimately decided not to sign him,” the club said in an official statement.
The move follows protests from sections of the fanbase who opposed Weissman’s arrival, citing comments he made after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. At the time, Weissman had posted messages interpreted as calling for the destruction of Gaza, remarks that drew criticism during his stint in Spain’s La Liga and resurfaced amid the recent transfer speculation.
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“I am the son of a people still mourning the horrors of October 7,” Weissman wrote in his first statement after the news of his contract cancellation. “That dark day, when entire families were murdered, kidnapped and brutally humiliated, remains an open wound for me—as a person, as an Israeli and as an athlete who represents his country.
“It is both possible and necessary to oppose harm to innocent people on both sides. But I will not allow myself to be portrayed as someone who promotes hate, based on three likes and a single comment that was immediately deleted. If anyone finds that hard to accept, they should look again at what happened on October 7.
“I accept all criticism, but it pains me that the full picture wasn’t taken into account. In a moment of deep personal and national fracture, I continue to uphold the values of humanity, sportsmanship and mutual respect. In the end, a person will always stand by their people, no matter the circumstances. No outsider can ever truly understand what we’ve been through. Loyalty is not up for debate. Especially not when your people are still burying their dead.
“I am grateful for the support I’ve received from those who truly know me. And I will continue to proudly carry the Israeli flag—wherever I play.”
Late Monday night, amid a flood of tagged posts on the club’s X (formerly Twitter) account, the club’s social media manager appeared to address the uproar, posting: “What is going on here? I'm getting messages nonstop after work. Judging people you don’t know based on their Wikipedia page? That’s not in line with our values.”
According to reports in German outlet Bild, Weissman had made a strong impression on club officials and had been in talks with Fortuna Düsseldorf for several weeks. The club was aware of the controversial posts, since deleted, before entering negotiations. Nevertheless, officials ultimately reversed course in response to the intensifying public pressure.