Soccer-Ozil quits German national side citing racism over Turkish heritage

[webfact]

Soccer-Ozil quits German national side citing racism over Turkish heritage

By Michelle Martin

 

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - Group F - Germany vs Sweden - Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Russia - June 23, 2018 Germany's Mesut Ozil before the match REUTERS/Michael Dalder

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - German soccer star Mesut Ozil said on Sunday he would no longer play for the national team because he faced "racism and disrespect" because of his Turkish roots.

 

His impassioned statement is one of the strongest issued by a player in recent years on the subject of racism and met with mixed reactions.

 

It comes amid a political debate in Germany about an influx of 1.6 million migrants since mid-2014 that has seen a rise of the far right at the expense of traditional parties.

 

Ozil, 29, was a key member of Germany's World Cup-winning side in 2014 and has been voted by fans as the team's player of the year five times since 2011.

 

But the creative midfielder faced a barrage of criticism at home for having his photograph taken with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in May.

 

He and Ilkay Gundogan, a team mate also of Turkish descent who posed with Erdogan as well, were jeered by German fans in warm-up games before the World Cup in Russia.

 

Germany failed to qualify from the group stage, making their earliest exit from the tournament in 80 years and Ozil was one of the scapegoats for their unsuccessful title defence.

 

Ozil, who plays for English club Arsenal, said German Football Association (DFB) President Reinhard Grindel had blamed him for Germany's poor performance.

 

"In the eyes of Grindel and his supporters I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose," Ozil wrote in a lengthy statement in English posted on his Twitter account.

 

He added he did not feel accepted in German society despite paying taxes there, making donations to German schools and being part of the team that won the World Cup.

 

"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.

 

"I used to wear the German shirt with such pride and excitement, but now I don't," he said. "I feel unwanted and think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten."

 

DUAL HERITAGE

Many European footballers who play for national teams have a heritage in a different country but it is extremely rare for such players to cite racism resulting from those roots as a reason to abandon their national side.

 

There is also a debate about whether enough is done to stamp out racism in the sport, which many black players have faced over the decades often in the form of chants by opposing fans.

 

Ozil questioned whether there were criteria for being German that he did not meet and asked why he should be referred to as German-Turkish when fellow German soccer players Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose were not referred to as German-Polish.

 

"Is it because it is Turkey? Is it because I'm a Muslim? I think here lays an important issue," he said.

 

Germany's Social Democrat Justice Minister Katarina Barley said on Twitter: "It's alarming if a great German football player like Mesut Ozil no longer feels wanted in his country and doesn't feel represented by the DFB due to racism."

 

Veteran Greens lawmaker Cem Ozdemir, who has Turkish roots, said Ozil's photo was wrong and his explanation unconvincing but added: "The way the DFB leadership acted is at least as disastrous - Grindel is hacking our history of integration to pieces. Do they want young German-Turks to start playing for Erdogan soon? The DFB needs a fresh start."

 

But others criticised Ozil, with Thomas Bareiss, a senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, saying Ozil's accusations of racism and a lack of respect were "out of place".

 

Mass-selling newspaper Bild said: "Ozil is revelling in the victim role that has nothing to do with reality".

 

Ozil has 92 caps for Germany and has scored 23 goals.

 

Earlier on Sunday Ozil defended the photograph in which he was pictured beaming with Erdogan, who was campaigning for re-election at the time.

 

"For me having a picture with President Erdogan wasn't about politics or elections, it was about me respecting the highest office of my family's country," he said.

 

"TWO HEARTS, ONE GERMAN, ONE TURKISH"

Relations between Germany and Turkey have soured amid a crackdown by Erdogan's government on suspected supporters of a failed military coup in July, 2016. Germany is home to some 3 million people with Turkish roots.

 

Germany and Turkey are both bidding to host the Euro 2024 tournament and UEFA will hold a meeting on Sept. 27 to choose between them.

 

Ozil said his mother had always told him to be respectful and remember his ancestry, heritage and family traditions, adding: "I have two hearts, one German and one Turkish."

 

Many fans and politicians in Germany were angered by the photo with Erdogan and it was widely criticised by politicians and Germany's football federation, which argued that Erdogan did not sufficiently respect German values.

 

(Additional reporting by Christian Radnedge,; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Ed Osmond)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-23

[aircooledflat4]

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

In the eyes of Grindel and his supporters I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose,"

Interesting, Einstein similarly observed that:

 

”If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare me a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German, and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.”

[stevenl]

I think a disappointing WC and him meeting Erdogan, and being used by Erdogan, has more to do with it.

[nahkit]

2 hours ago, aircooledflat4 said:

Interesting, Einstein similarly observed that:

 

”If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare me a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German, and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.”

Problem with that is that Ozil met with Erdogan in May, one month before the World Cup started, and the criticism started then, they didn't wait to see if he had a good World Cup or not.

[DM07]

Oezil absolutely learning resistant and he doesn't understand a few, important facts:

a ) as a German- citizen, he enjoys freedom of speech and expression (something, his fellow countrymen in Turkey...under Erdogan.. enjoy less and less...). He has the right, to express his admiration for Erdogan...and everybody else, has the right to express horror and disgust over his opinion.

b ) the racism- argument is not well suited to gloss over his idiocy!

Sure, there are some racists (too many!) in Germany, who have complained for years, that Oezil was not singing the national anthem and BS like that! But he absolutely does not get it, that the main criticism is about him, posing with a quasi- dictator!

c ) when he says, he would do it all again, exactly as he did it before, doesn't really speak volumes about his intelligence!

 

[lanista]

Almost 30 years/old.

Sounds more like he jumped before being pushed.

Cast out the racist line and reel in the media.

Works every time.

[thecyclist]

The timing of this declaration - right after a dismal performance at the world cup - is suspect.

Doubt there is more racism in today's Germany than there is in other countries, certainly not towards the Turks, who are well integrated.

Plaudits for him not singing the national anthem;I wouldn't in any country that condones the massive inequality and exploitation that the so-called western democracies exhibit. 

[africasiaeuro]

Thanks to Merkel. In Pre Merkel days such would not have been the case.

She made it all possible.

Stirring up racism once again in a country already hurt by it's past.

[sammieuk1]

The dictator on the right has done for him and the whole of Turkey.  

[ChidlomDweller]

My opinion about Turks in my own country (Belgium) has changed following how they massively voted for Erdogan (74% pro, so leaving out the Kurdish Turks that's the bulk of them).  They're generally much better integrated than the Maroccons, but observing how they, with the benefit of 2-3 generations in a Western country, still side with this wannabe dictator instead of taking a stand for plurality and the rule of law has been an eye-opener.  Ozil claims that picture does not indicate his support but I don't believe him.  Erdogan is locking up journalists, shutting down newspapers, smearing every opponent with the terrorist label, is fighting the Kurds, the only heros from the civil war in Syria, firing government employees by the tens of thousands for suspected anti-government sympathies, and so on.  You don't do a PR photoshoot with a person like that without implicitly endorsing him.

Edited July 23, 2018 by ChidlomDweller

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, DM07 said:

Oezil absolutely learning resistant and he doesn't understand a few, important facts:

a ) as a German- citizen, he enjoys freedom of speech and expression (something, his fellow countrymen in Turkey...under Erdogan.. enjoy less and less...). He has the right, to express his admiration for Erdogan...and everybody else, has the right to express horror and disgust over his opinion.

b ) the racism- argument is not well suited to gloss over his idiocy!

Sure, there are some racists (too many!) in Germany, who have complained for years, that Oezil was not singing the national anthem and BS like that! But he absolutely does not get it, that the main criticism is about him, posing with a quasi- dictator!

c ) when he says, he would do it all again, exactly as he did it before, doesn't really speak volumes about his intelligence!

 

 

Indeed. A lot of people were critical over this photo with two German citizens and national team members posing with the President of another country who happens to be dismantling democracy and putting his family and relations in positions of power, oppressing the media and hounding opposition. 

 

Team members could rightly question their commitment to the German side when they're seen in such photos.

 

He does indeed revel in playing the victim and it's he who introduced the Muslim card. Criticism was against being photo'd with the dictatorial President of another country. No one played the Muslim card, only him. Again showing how Muslims perceive any criticism for anything as being anti Muslim and then call for support from other Muslims.

[goldenbrwn1]

Obviously quitting the German National side had nothing to do with him also being absolute sh##e and knowing there would prob not be another call up for him.

[Bluespunk]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

German soccer star Mesut Ozil said on Sunday he would no longer play for the national team because he faced "racism and disrespect" because of his Turkish roots.

Nothing to do with the fact you were shit during the World Cup (in addition to having been shit for Arsenal for the past two seasons) or appear to support an intolerant, wannabe facist dictator, then...

Edited July 23, 2018 by Bluespunk

[DM07]

7 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Nothing to do with the fact you were shit during the World Cup (in addition to having been shit for Arsenal for the past two seasons) or appear to support an intolerant, wannabe facist dictator, then...

I for one, couldn't care less, if he is Muslim or Hindu, or if he sings the anthem.

It's a football- match, not the Eurovision!

 

He makes this about everything and everyone is at fault...just not him, having his photo taken with Erdogan at an official press- appointment (some claim, this photo was a private thing!!!), where Erdogan was actually rallying for his "election"!

 

That and ONLY THAT should be at the center and front of this affair! 

[puipuitom]

I do not understand he accepts a picture like this, in fact confirming he is playing in a neo-nazi fascist state. So, f..k off to your hail state Turkey.

[ChidlomDweller]

One other thing I forgot to mention was the really base insults Erdogan had been hurling at Merkel (among others the Nazi label).  How can he be surprised that Germans are questioning where his loyalty lies now?  

 

Let me also say I've met lots of really wonderful Turks over the years, but all of the pro-European, cosmopolitan type that are now seeing their country "middle-easternized".  For them especially I find it very sad what's going on there.  

[SheungWan]

Full analysis: Ozil and Arsenal and Erdogan are c**p.

Edited July 23, 2018 by SheungWan