Arsenal sued as ex-kit manager claims 'unfair dismissal' over anti-Israel comments

Per The Guardian, a former Arsenal kit man has begun legal proceedings against the club as he alleges unfair dismissal. Bonnick claims he was the victim of a "discriminatory" dismissal due to his "philosophical anti-Zionist belief". In December 2024, Arsenal suspended Bonnick and he was later sacked due to a series of posts made on social media relating to the ongoing conflict in Palestine, particularly Gaza, where Israel have continued military strikes since Hamas attacked a music festival on October 7.

Bonnick insists that his posts were not anti-Semitic, and were instead motivated by a genuine belief in anti-Zionism. The Guardian has published five replies on X that he has cited in his legal submission.

Several read as follows: “Yes it is all about Jewish supremacy & not wanting to share the land Ethnic cleansing”; “Why should they be protected anymore than any other community? Some see this as the problem Jewish communities thinking they should be put before others”; “What about the Jews that attack Christians?” He also wrote: “Hamas offered to release all hostages in October. Zionist Israel refused. Persecution complex”.

Speaking to the newspaper, Bonnick explained: “I want them to acknowledge what they’ve done to me is wrong and that they should not have sacked me. I believe in standing up for what’s right, especially when you see injustice, and I feel strongly against what Israel is doing in Gaza.

“I’ve tweeted on various issues, including football, Brexit, racism, knife crime and politics. It only became a problem when I tweeted about Israel, which led to a pile-on online and people contacting the club.”

The former kit-man claims that Arsenal did not directly accuse him of being anti-Semitic, but they noted his posts could be "perceived as inflammatory or offensive” and claimed that they had “brought the club into disrepute”. Bonnick wants reinstatement and damages.

Bonnick's case is expected to be heard in 2026. He has already lost an appeal against his sacking.