DUESSELDORF, Germany :Fortuna Duesseldorf coach Daniel Thioune said on Thursday he had tried to block out the noise caused by his club's failed attempt to sign Israel forward Shon Weissman following fan protests over the player's social media posts on the war in Gaza.

The second division club was reportedly close to signing the 29-year-old from Spanish side Granada but on Tuesday said in a one-line social media post that, despite their interest in the player, the transfer would not go ahead. They did not say why.

Fortuna fans had opposed a transfer in the previous days, citing the player's 2023 social media posts on the war in Gaza, which had already caused uproar in Spain where he was playing at the time. Among them was one post urging the bombing of Gaza.

"I only focus on sporting iss

See Full Page