The five-time German Player of the Year, Mesut Ozil, has quit international football, citing racism as the reason behind the decision. The midfielder, who currently plays for Arsenal, used strong words to hit out at the German press and German football federation (DFB) President Reinhard Grindel.
Controversy
The whole controversy revolves around a picture of Ozil with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. As per Ozil, the German media used the picture to fuel a hate-filled political agenda against him and his ancestors.
This is the picture that we are talking about:
Following the concerted and ill-conceived campaign against him, the star playmaker posted a detailed letter on social media, explaining why he took this decision.
Ozil’s Retirement
Here is what Ozil had to say about the reasons why he decided to step down from his position at the national team.
The past couple of weeks have given me time to reflect, and time to think over the events of the last few months. Consequently, I want to share my thoughts and feelings about what has happened. pic.twitter.com/WpWrlHxx74
— Mesut Özil (@M10) July 22, 2018
II / III pic.twitter.com/Jwqv76jkmd
— Mesut Özil (@M10) July 22, 2018
III / III pic.twitter.com/c8aTzYOhWU
— Mesut Özil (@M10) July 22, 2018
To understand why he took the step he did, it is important to remember Ozil’s roots and the politics surrounding this issue in Germany.
Mesut Ozil was born and raised in Germany, however, his parents belong to Turkey. At one point in the statement, Ozil asked,
Are there criteria for being fully German that I do not fit? My friend Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose are never referred to as German-Polish, so why am I German-Turkish? Is it because it is Turkey? Is it because I’m a Muslim? I think here lays an important issue. By being referred to as German-Turkish, it is already distinguishing people who have family from more than one country. I was born and educated in Germany, so why don’t people accept that I am German?
Ozil directly addressed the DFB President as well, saying,
To you, Reinhard Grindel, I am disappointed but not surprised by your actions. In 2004 whilst you were a German member of Parliament, you claimed that “multiculturalism is, in reality, a myth [and] a lifelong lie” whilst you voted against legislation for dual-nationalities and punishments for bribery, as well as saying that Islamic culture has become too ingrained in many German cities. This is unforgivable and unforgettable.
The midfielder then added that he no longer wants to wear the German national team shirt for the treatment he received. He ended the message by saying that this is not why he plays football and he will not sit back and do nothing about it, pointing to the racist treatment and political agenda against him in the media.
In the end, Ozil wrote:
Racism should never, ever be accepted.
There has been a huge outpouring of support for Ozil over social media, with #StandWithOzil and #NoToRacism.
The 29-year-old footballer has played 92 matches for Germany since his international debut in 2009. He has provided 40 assists and scored 23 goals in 92 appearances for Die Mannschaft. Ozil played a pivotal role in guiding Germany to World Cup glory in 2014.
Sad. Good decision if there was that much racism directed towards him.
He is showing the real face of Germans who are the bigest enemy of muslims
Calm down. Germany accepts a lot of Muslims refugees and otherwise, and lets them practise their religion. How free are non Muslims in the Muslim world?
enough of your “yahoodi sazish” mindlessness, its 2018, educate yourself.