The world of football has backed the German player after announcing his decision to withdraw from the German national team.
Mesut Ozil shocked the world of football Sunday night as he announced his retirement from the German national team.
Citing racism and disrespect, Ozil, who is of Turkish origin, said he no longer wanted to or could wear Germany’s famous black-and-white jersey.
“I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose,” wrote the player, who was made the scapegoat for then-reigning world champion Germany’s humiliating exit from the tournament in Russia.
Right before the World Cup, Ozil came under fire in Germany for meeting and taking a picture with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Some criticism after the meeting turned into racial abuse.
Underlining that sports brings a lot to integration in a country, Chancellor Angela Merkel said she respects Ozil’s decision.
“The chancellor values Mesut Ozil highly. He is a great footballer who has contributed a great deal to the national team,” said Merkel’s spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer, adding that he has “now made a decision that must be respected.”
Justice Minister Katarina Barley wrote on Twitter that it was an “alarm bell if a great German footballer like Mesut Ozil no longer feels wanted in his country or represented by the DFB.”
According to former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, who also played in Turkey for Super Lig club Trabzonspor, “discrimination should have no place in the world let alone football.”
“You have helped Germany win trophies and then they turn on you. Be Proud of who you are and your heritage!” Campbell said as he addressed Mesut on Twitter.
Back when Germany couldn’t get enough of their star.
The Arsenal player also received support from Turkey, including from the members of the Turkish Cabinet.
“I congratulate Mesut Ozil who by leaving the national team has scored the most beautiful goal against the virus of fascism,” Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul wrote on Twitter.
Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Kasapoglu also expressed support for the player.
“We sincerely support the honorable stance that our brother Mesut Ozil has taken,” he said.
Since his debut in 2009, he won 92 caps for Germany, scoring 23 goals and setting up 40 more. He was chosen the German national team player of the year on five occasions. He won the World Cup in 2014 as a crucial member of Germany’s squad.