Mesut Ozil ends Germany career citing racism; says he's frustrated over ill treatment due to Turkish roots
Mesut Ozil (left) has been under fire ever since he posed for this picture with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May. Many raised questions about his loyalty to Germany. Pic/AFP
Mesut Ozil said he was quitting the German national football team, citing racism in the criticism of him after the side's World Cup debacle. Ozil, who has Turkish roots, had been under fire since posing for a controversial photograph with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May which sparked questions about his loyalty to Germany's squad ahead of the tournament in Russia.
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In a four-page statement sent out in three images on Twitter and Instagram, an angry Ozil saved his bombshell for the final salvo. "It is with a heavy heart and after much consideration that because of recent events, I will no longer be playing for Germany at international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect," he said. "Arguably the issue that has frustrated me the most over the past couple of months has been the mistreatment from the DFB, and in particular the DFB President Richard Grindel," he said.
He said that Grindel and Germany coach Joachim Loew had asked him to give a joint statement to end all the talk over the picture with Erdogan. "Whilst I attempted to explain to Grindel my heritage, ancestry and therefore reasoning behind the photo, he was far more interested in speaking about his own political views and belittling my opinion."
Ozil said he had been blamed for Germany's shock first-round exit at the World Cup. "I will no longer stand for being a scapegoat for his [Grindel's] incompetence and inability to do his job properly. In the eyes of Grindel and his supporters, I am German when we win, but I an immigrant when we lose."
German Chancellor respects Ozil's call
Berlin: Chancellor Angela Merkel respects Mesut Ozil's decision to quit playing for Germany, her spokeswoman said yesterday, "The chancellor values Mesut Ozil highly. He is a footballer who has contributed a great deal to the national team," said Ulrike Demmer, adding that he has "now made a decision that must be respected."
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