Arsenal Sued For Unfair Dismissal of Employee Who Supported Palestine

A former Arsenal kit manager is suing the football club for unfair dismissal and discrimination over its decision to sack him for expressing solidarity with Palestine on social media.

Life-long Arsenal supporter Mark Bonnick, 61, had worked at the north London club’s academy for 22 years until he was fired on Christmas Eve last year over a series of social media posts.

“I think it’s crazy that in football, we can talk about kicking out racism, but we’re not allowed to talk about apartheid and what’s going on in Israel,” Bonnick told Novara Media. “We spoke out against the apartheid in South Africa. Why can we not speak out against genocide now?

“Israel is an apartheid state. I was sacked not for misconduct, but for expressing grief and outrage over genocide. Despite being this close to retirement, I have no regrets. Arsenal must apologise, reinstate me and take a stand against anti-Palestinian racism.”

Bonnick had posted on X in relation to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza: “Yes it is all about Jewish supremacy & not wanting to share the land Ethnic cleansing.” He also posted that ​​“Zionist Israel” had a “persecution complex”. 

Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 61,000 Palestinians and wounded 118,000 others since October 2023. More than 17,500 children have been killed in Gaza – one child every 45 minutes. 

In a letter sent in February following a disciplinary appeal hearing, Arsenal wrote: “The club has never said that your posts were antisemitic. [The dismissal decision-maker] made no finding on that and nor do I.”

Regardless, citing reputational damage caused by media coverage of Bonnick’s tweets from last December, the club has upheld its decision to dismiss him on the grounds that he brought Arsenal “into disrepute”.

Despite his 22 years of service, Bonnick was denied the customary Christmas bonus for staff and was dismissed without notice or pay in lieu. After subsequently needing to take time off sick for symptoms of anxiety and depression, Bonnick now does manual odd jobs to make ends meet.

Bonnick’s legal team argues that Arsenal has prioritised a perceived PR risk over the right to political expression. Representing barrister Franck Magennis said: “His [Bonnick’s] dismissal sends a chilling message to those who speak out against apartheid and genocide. Arsenal must be held accountable.”

Alongside his reinstatement, Bonnick is seeking a public apology from Arsenal, anti-racism training for all club staff, and an end to Arsenal’s complicity in censorship of Palestine solidarity.

Tasnima Uddin, who works for the European Legal Support Centre, an organisation providing legal support for Europeans advocating for Palestinian rights, said: “Arsenal didn’t sack Mark for misconduct or antisemitism – they sacked him for standing with Palestine. 

“This is political censorship. As Palestinian athletes are killed and stadiums destroyed, Arsenal punishes staff for opposing apartheid. You can’t claim neutrality while silencing dissent.”

A protest will be held outside Arsenal stadium on 18 May, ahead of the club’s final home game of the season against Newcastle. Novara Media has reached out to Arsenal Football Club for comment. 

In 2021, Arsenal sponsor the Lavazza Group wrote to the club expressing concern about the club being “associated with such a message” after Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny tweeted “my heart and my soul and my support for you Palestine”.

At the time, the club said: “As with any employees of Arsenal, our players are entitled to express their views on their own platforms.” They added that they had “spoken to” Elney so that he “understands the wider implications of his post”.

The Guardian has previously reported that Palestine flags have been confiscated at Arsenal matches, with spectators who refused to comply with stewards being ejected from the grounds.

In March 2024, a coalition of football fans under the banner Football for Palestine held a rally outside the Arsenal stadium, as part of the groups’ demand that the Premier League end its partnership with Barclays Bank, which has faced a boycott campaign over its continued provision of financial services to defence companies supplying Israel.

Last month, National League side Dagenham and Redbridge sacked newly-appointed director of development and engagement Salma Mashhour only three days into her role over an Instagram post from October 2023 about Gaza.

The club has since apologised to Mashhour in a public statement: “We regret, and apologise for, any harm which may have been caused to Dr Mashhour as a consequence of statements attributable to, or associated with, the club’s decision to remove her.”

Last season, German Bundesliga side Mainz lost an unfair dismissal claim in court, following the club’s sudden termination of winger Anwar El Ghazi’s contract after he expressed support for Palestine online.

Following the court ruling, the former Aston Villa and Everton forward received a payment of €1.5m from Mainz, €500,000 of which he donated to children in Gaza.

“I do not distance myself from what I said and stand for humanity and on the side of the oppressed until the last day I breathe,” said El Ghazi. “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.”