Mesut Ozil retires from international football, cites racism

[pajimoh]

Meeting President Erdogan
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.

Like many people, my ancestry traces back to more than one country. Whilst I grew up in Germany, my family background has its roots firmly based in Turkey. I have two hearts, one German and one Turkish. During my childhood, my mother taught me to always be respectful and to never forget where I came from, and these are still values that I think about to this day.

In May, I met President Erdogan in London, during a charitable and educational event. We first met in 2010 after he and Angela Merkel watched the Germany vs. Turkey match together in Berlin. Since then, our paths have crossed a lot of times around the globe. I'm aware that the picture of us caused a huge response in the German media, and whilst some people may accuse me of lying or being deceitful, the picture we took had no political intentions.

As I said, my mother has never let me lose sight of my ancestry, heritage and family traditions. 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. My job is a football player and not a politician, and our meeting was not an endorsement of any policies. In fact, we spoke about the same topic that we do every time we have met - football - as he too was a player in his youth.

Although the German media have portrayed something different, the truth is that not meeting with the President would have been disrespecting the roots of my ancestors, who I know would be proud of where I am today. For me, it didn't matter who was President, it mattered that it was the President. Having respect for political office is a view that I'm sure both the Queen and Prime Minister Theresa May share when they too hosted Erdogan in London. Whether it had been the Turkish or the German President, my actions would’ve been no different.

I get that this may be hard to understand, as in most cultures the political leader cannot be thought of as being separate from the person. But in this case, it is different. Whatever the outcome would've been in this previous election, or the election before that, I would have still taken the picture.


Media and sponsors

I know that I am a footballer who has played in arguably the three toughest leagues in the world. I've been fortunate to receive great support from my teammates and coaching staff whilst playing in the Bundesliga, La Liga and the Premier League. And in addition, throughout my career, I've learnt to deal with the media.

A lot of people talk about my performances - many applaud and many criticise. If a newspaper or pundit finds fault in a game I play in, then I can accept this - I'm not a perfect footballer and this often motivates me to work and train harder. But what I can’t accept, are German media outlets repeatedly blaming my dual-heritage and a simple picture for a bad World Cup on behalf of an entire squad.

Certain German newspapers are using my background and photo with President Erdogan as right-wing propaganda to further their political cause. Why else did they use pictures and headlines with my name as a direct explanation for defeat in Russia?

They didn‘t criticise my performances. They didn‘t criticise the team‘s performances, they just criticised my Turkish ancestry and respect for my upbringing. This crosses a personal line that should never be crossed, as newspapers try to turn the nation of Germany against me.

What I also find disappointing are the double standards that the media has. Lothar Matthaus (an honorary German national team captain) met with another world leader a few days back, and received almost no media criticism. Despite his role with the DFB (German national team), they have not asked him to publicly explain his actions and he continues to represent the players of Germany without any reprimand. If the media felt that I should have been left of the World Cup squad, then surely he should be stripped of his honorary captaincy? Does my Turkish heritage make me a more worthy target?

I've always thought that a 'partnership' infers support, both in the good times and also during tougher situations. Recently, I planned to visit my former school Berger-Feld in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, along with two of my charitable partners. I funded a project for one year where immigrant children, children from poor families and any other children can play football together and learn social rules for life.

However, days before we were scheduled to go, I was abandoned by my so-called 'partners', who no longer wanted to work with me at this time. To add to this, the school told my management that they no longer wanted me to be there at this time, as they 'feared the media" due to my picture with President Erdogan, especially with the “right-wing party in Gelsenkirchen on the rise". In all honesty, this really hurt. Despite being a student of theirs back when l was younger. I was made to feel unwanted and unworthy of their time.

In addition to this I was renounced by another partner. As they are also a sponsor of the DFB, l was asked to take part in promotional videos for the World Cup. Yet after my picture with President Erdogan they took me out of the campaigns and cancelled all promotional activities that were scheduled. For them it was no longer good to be seen with me and called the situation ‘crisis management'.

This is all ironic because a German Ministry declared their products have illegal and unauthorized software devices in them, which puts customers at risk. Hundreds of thousands of their products are getting recalled. Whilst I was being criticised and asked to justify my actions by the DFB, there was no such official and public explanation demanded of the DFB sponsor. Why? Am i right in thinking this is worse than a picture with the President of my family‘s country? What does the OPE have to say about all this?

As I said before, ‘partners' should stick with you in all situations. Adidas, Beats and Big Shoe have been extremely loyal and amazing to work with in this time. They rise above the nonsense created by the German press and media, and we carry out our projects in a professional manner that I really enjoy being part of.

During the World Cup, I worked with Big Shoe and helped get 23 young children life-changing surgeries in Russia, which I have also done previously in Brazil and Africa. This for me is the most important thing that I do as a football player, yet the newspapers find no space to raise awareness about this sort of thing.

For them, me being booed or taking a picture with a President is more significant then helping children get surgeries worldwide. They too have a platform to raise awareness and funds, but choose not to do so.

DFB

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 OPE President Reinhard Grindel. After my picture with President Erdogan l was asked by Joachim Low to cut short my holiday and go to Berlin and give a joint statement to end all the talk and set the record straight.

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.

Whilst his actions were patronising, we came to agree that the best thing to do was to concentrate on football and the upcoming World Cup. This is why l did not attend the OPE media day during the World Cup preparations. I knew journalists discussing politics and not football would just attack me, even though the whole issue was deemed to be over by Oliver Bierhoff in a TV interview he did before the Saudi Arabia game in Leverkusen.

During this time, I also met with the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Unlike Grindel, President Steinmeier was professional and actually was interested in what I had to say about my family, my heritage and my decisions. I remember that the meeting was only between myself, Ilkay and President Steinmeier, with Grindel being upset that he wasn't allowed inside to boost his own political agenda.

I agreed with President Steinmeier that we would release a joint statement about the matter, in another attempt to move toward and focus on football. But Grindel was upset that it wasn't his team releasing the first statement, annoyed that Steinmeier‘s press office had to take lead on this matter.

Since the end of the World Cup, Grindel has come under much pressure regarding his decisions before the tournament started, and rightly so. Recently, he has publicly said I should once again explain my actions and puts me at fault for the poor team results in Russia, despite telling me it was over in Berlin. I am speaking now not for Grindel, but because I want to. I will no longer stand for being a scapegoat for his incompetence and inability to do his job properly. I know that he wanted me out the team after the picture, and publicised his view on Twitter without any thinking or consultation, but Joachim Low and Oliver Bierhoff stood up for me and backed me.

In the eyes of Grindel and his supporters, I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose. This is because despite paying taxes in Germany, donating facilities to German schools and winning the World Cup with Germany in 2014, I am still not accepted into society. I am treated as being 'different'. I received the 'Bambi Award' in 2010 as an example of successful integration to German society, I received a 'Silver Laurel Leaf' in 2014 from the Federal Republic of Germany, and I was a ’German Football Ambassador’ in 2015. But clearly, I am not German.. .?

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?

Grindel's opinions can be found elsewhere too. I was called by Bernd Holzhauer (a German politician) a “goat-f***er” because of my picture with President Erdogan and my Turkish background. Furthermore, Werner Steer (Chief of German Theatre) told me to "piss off to Anatolia", a place in Turkey where many immigrants are based.

As I have said before, criticising and abusing me because of family ancestry is a disgraceful line to cross, and using discrimination as a tool for political propaganda is something that should immediately result In the resignation of those disrespectful individuals. These people have used my picture with President Erdogan as an opportunity to express their previously hidden racist tendencies, and this is dangerous for society.

They are no better than the German fan who told me after the game against Sweden "Ozil, verpiss Dich Du scheiss TiirkensauJ’iirkenschwein hau ab' or in English "Ozil, f**k off you Turkish s**t, p*** off you Turkish pig!‘

I don't want to even discuss the hate mail, threatening phone calls and comments on social media that my family and I have received. They all represent a Germany of the past, a Germany not open to new cultures, and a Germany that I am not proud of. I am confident that many proud Germans who embrace an open society would agree with me.

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 treatment l have received from the OPE and many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt. I feel unwanted and think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten. People with racially discriminative backgrounds should not be allowed to work in the largest football federation in the world that has many players from dual-heritage families. Attitudes like theirs simply do not reflect the players they supposedly represent.

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. I used to wear the German shirt with such pride and excitement, but now I don‘t. This decision has been extremely difficult to make because I have always given everything for my teammates, the coaching staff and the good people of Germany. But when high-ranking DFB officials treat me as they did, disrespect my Turkish roots and selfishly turn me into political propaganda, then enough is enough. That is not why I play football, and I will not sit back and do nothing about it.

Racism should never, ever be accepted.

Ozil, I throw s billion salute your way. Add Anigbelenu to the racist cvnts

We should start an international #WeSupportOzil campaign

[cchinukw]

To some any you guys lambasting Ozil what would you have said of Mohammed Ali refusing to fight in the Vietnam war or the 2 black athletes who raised their fists at the Olympics?

The embarrassment isn't Ozil's. That should be owned by the racist mobsters who have been given a voice and platform in Germany's government.

It's his way of sticking it to those intellectual imps who can't see beyond race.

[joplass]

NO respect to Ozil. This shows he is not German. Mbappe will not come to Cameroon and help Biya's political career.

https://matookerepublic.com/2018/07/19/ ... es-father/

...and the point is???

[akamoke]

To some any you guys lambasting Ozil what would you have said of Mohammed Ali refusing to fight in the Vietnam war or the 2 black athletes who raised their fists at the Olympics?

The embarrassment isn't Ozil's. That should be owned by the racist mobsters who have been given a voice and platform in Germany's government.

It's his way of sticking it to those intellectual imps who can't see beyond race.

I suspect they would have reacted the way the great Jesse Owens reacted

[pajimoh]

Bepanda, Jobless - please drop it. Until you've given as much as Ozil gave for the German cause and drank the bitter water he's been forced to swallow, your comments are irrelevant. He expected a standard and a level of treatment from the same people he had tried to represent but got......

#WeSupportOzil

[Benedict Iroha]

This is what Trevor Noah said and the ambassador lashed out at him. When the French start losing, watch them turn on them the minority.

[bepanda]

And you believe I haven't given to the German cause? You are very funny.
I'm fluent in German. I lived in Germany, have a masters degree from a German University. Worked in Germany and worked for German companies outside of Germany ... Duh !!!
Bepanda

Bepanda, Jobless - please drop it. Until you've given as much as Ozil gave for the German cause and drank the bitter water he's been forced to swallow, your comments are irrelevant. He expected a standard and a level of treatment from the same people he had tried to represent but got......

#WeSupportOzil

[tolahs]

Ozil ... as always, is a very sorry personality.
They asked him for 3 months to explain the picture and the meeting ... he didn't say a single word. Did he want people to read what is in his heart?
He could have explained this prior to the world cup. Furthermore, Erdogan is not just the President of Turkey. he represents nothing Germany stands for. Human rights violations, assassinations of opponents, putting people in Jail , Journalist in jails, ... etc.
Seriously ???
Ozil is an embarrassment for Germany. Good riddance to him. Based on current form for the last 3 years, he doesn't deserve a spot anyway.

Do Germany still trade with his govt? Do they still have relations with Turkey? Politicians should lead - why deal with Putin, China etc - miss me with this selectiveness.
Nothing Germany stands for - which Germany? go read the guys 3page tweets - he gives you quotes of German politicians & leaders.

[tolahs]

Ozil ... as always, is a very sorry personality.
They asked him for 3 months to explain the picture and the meeting ... he didn't say a single word. Did he want people to read what is in his heart?
He could have explained this prior to the world cup. Furthermore, Erdogan is not just the President of Turkey. he represents nothing Germany stands for. Human rights violations, assassinations of opponents, putting people in Jail , Journalist in jails, ... etc.
Seriously ???
Ozil is an embarrassment for Germany. Good riddance to him. Based on current form for the last 3 years, he doesn't deserve a spot anyway.

If anyone qualified to be banned for stupidity and being retarded, u would be eminently qualified.

What about Putin and Mattheus choosing to meet with him; how much of what he stands for represents what Germany stands for?

And what does Germany stand for anyhow? The Syrian refugees? The neo-nazis or perhaps the Little Sisters of the Poor?

Stand Up!!!!

[tolahs]

What exactly did he say? He said people were racist ... doesn't everyone use that word all over the place these days?
If they refuse you a loan, you call the bank racist.
If they refuse you a ride, you call the driver racist ... do we even know what "racist" mean today?
Ozil didn't even explain what he thought was racism. He simply uses the word ... for effect.
Bepanda

Ozil ... as always, is a very sorry personality.
They asked him for 3 months to explain the picture and the meeting ... he didn't say a single word. Did he want people to read what is in his heart?
He could have explained this prior to the world cup. Furthermore, Erdogan is not just the President of Turkey. he represents nothing Germany stands for. Human rights violations, assassinations of opponents, putting people in Jail , Journalist in jails, ... etc.
Seriously ???
Ozil is an embarrassment for Germany. Good riddance to him. Based on current form for the last 3 years, he doesn't deserve a spot anyway.

Right or wrong doesn't really matter.
What's important is that he has the guts to come and say something like this.
Making enemies in high places is going to hurt his own career..

What are you talking about? Can you please just re-read what you just wrote and tell me it makes sense and somehow relates to what is really going on.

My point is that if he is really leaving the NT because of his poor performance he should shut up about racism.

You can't scream racism just because it fits your personal agenda.

Would he have said this had Germany won the WC? I don't think so..

The moment Oliver Bierhoff threw him under the bus to save his backside & the rest of the German coaching - your reasoning lost traction - he'd to leave with multiple bombs thrown. Ozil has been far more condemned than a team which underperformed all over the pitch & a coach who dropped Sane for bogus reasons.

[tolahs]

If you don't understand, I suggest you read again what I wrote and the quoted messages I'm responding to.
People use "Racism" as an excuse for everything. Consistently dilapidating the actual meaning of the word.
People use "Racism" simply for effect ... or for gather sympathies. But, it is unfortunately just a lazy term used as a co-out.
Ozil never gave an explanation for why he met and took pictures with a dictator (and islamist fundamentalist), who has jailed tons of people in his country for no reason.
When asked to explain, he says the DFB is racist, deferring the blame.
Bepanda

What exactly did he say? He said people were racist ... doesn't everyone use that word all over the place these days?
If they refuse you a loan, you call the bank racist.
If they refuse you a ride, you call the driver racist ... do we even know what "racist" mean today?
Ozil didn't even explain what he thought was racism. He simply uses the word ... for effect.
Bepanda

Ozil ... as always, is a very sorry personality.
They asked him for 3 months to explain the picture and the meeting ... he didn't say a single word. Did he want people to read what is in his heart?
He could have explained this prior to the world cup. Furthermore, Erdogan is not just the President of Turkey. he represents nothing Germany stands for. Human rights violations, assassinations of opponents, putting people in Jail , Journalist in jails, ... etc.
Seriously ???
Ozil is an embarrassment for Germany. Good riddance to him. Based on current form for the last 3 years, he doesn't deserve a spot anyway.

Right or wrong doesn't really matter.
What's important is that he has the guts to come and say something like this.
Making enemies in high places is going to hurt his own career..

What are you talking about? Can you please just re-read what you just wrote and tell me it makes sense and somehow relates to what is really going on.

You're making an abstract argument - Ozil has provided well sourced facts - the Turkish communities all over Germany will feel a foot taller. Ozil has zero influence over any policy.

[tolahs]

To some any you guys lambasting Ozil what would you have said of Mohammed Ali refusing to fight in the Vietnam war or the 2 black athletes who raised their fists at the Olympics?

The embarrassment isn't Ozil's. That should be owned by the racist mobsters who have been given a voice and platform in Germany's government.

It's his way of sticking it to those intellectual imps who can't see beyond race.

I suspect they would have reacted the way the great Jesse Owens reacted

Remember those African American boxers who refused to call Ali his new name to appease massa. Germans know he has hit hard.

[tolahs]

And you believe I haven't given to the German cause? You are very funny.
I'm fluent in German. I lived in Germany, have a masters degree from a German University. Worked in Germany and worked for German companies outside of Germany ... Duh !!!
Bepanda

Bepanda, Jobless - please drop it. Until you've given as much as Ozil gave for the German cause and drank the bitter water he's been forced to swallow, your comments are irrelevant. He expected a standard and a level of treatment from the same people he had tried to represent but got......

#WeSupportOzil

&???

[mcal]

...his retirement is his business, the German and Turkish people, I and many Africans don't give a rassass.

[Chief Ogbunigwe]

...his retirement is his business, the German and Turkish people, I and many Africans don't give a rassass.

Thanks for informing us

[kalani JR]

He'll be back.

[bepanda]

So Ozil is the new Ali?
This is why people don't take genuine Racism claims seriously anymore.
Every clown can now claim he is the victim. of racism, and he is elevated and compared to people whose lives were impacted by real injustice.
What's funny ... is people keep falling for this trick.
Remember how many games he refused to show up for Arsenal last season after signing his $350k/week deal?
He was always "hurt", and people excused him saying he played the whole season injured. He was still injured at the world cup? Because he stunk really bad...
Has he had any surgery? Who knows ... the season starts soon ... so we will see how "injured" he is.
Ozil is the KING of apologists ... And his fans aren't far behind.
Bepanda

To some any you guys lambasting Ozil what would you have said of Mohammed Ali refusing to fight in the Vietnam war or the 2 black athletes who raised their fists at the Olympics?
The embarrassment isn't Ozil's. That should be owned by the racist mobsters who have been given a voice and platform in Germany's government.
It's his way of sticking it to those intellectual imps who can't see beyond race.

I suspect they would have reacted the way the great Jesse Owens reacted

Remember those African American boxers who refused to call Ali his new name to appease massa. Germans know he has hit hard.

[kalani JR]

So Ozil is the new Ali?
This is why people don't take genuine Racism claims seriously anymore.
Every clown can now claim he is the victim. of racism, and he is elevated and compared to people whose lives were impacted by real injustice.
What's funny ... is people keep falling for this trick.
Remember how many games he refused to show up for Arsenal last season after signing his $350k/week deal?
He was always "hurt", and people excused him saying he played the whole season injured. He was still injured at the world cup? Because he stunk really bad...
Has he had any surgery? Who knows ... the season starts soon ... so we will see how "injured" he is.
Ozil is the KING of apologists ... And his fans aren't far behind.
Bepanda

To some any you guys lambasting Ozil what would you have said of Mohammed Ali refusing to fight in the Vietnam war or the 2 black athletes who raised their fists at the Olympics?
The embarrassment isn't Ozil's. That should be owned by the racist mobsters who have been given a voice and platform in Germany's government.
It's his way of sticking it to those intellectual imps who can't see beyond race.

I suspect they would have reacted the way the great Jesse Owens reacted

Remember those African American boxers who refused to call Ali his new name to appease massa. Germans know he has hit hard.

He wasn't claiming phantom racism he actually gave examples.

[ANC]

Racism? He is not "white"?

[anikulapo]

Ozil ... as always, is a very sorry personality.
They asked him for 3 months to explain the picture and the meeting ... he didn't say a single word. Did he want people to read what is in his heart?
He could have explained this prior to the world cup. Furthermore, Erdogan is not just the President of Turkey. he represents nothing Germany stands for. Human rights violations, assassinations of opponents, putting people in Jail , Journalist in jails, ... etc.
Seriously ???
Ozil is an embarrassment for Germany. Good riddance to him. Based on current form for the last 3 years, he doesn't deserve a spot anyway.

Dude why do you waste your time with fools here .... let them wank themselves off .... pathetic lineal thinkers once again being played for the saps that they are

[anikulapo]

To some any you guys lambasting Ozil what would you have said of Mohammed Ali refusing to fight in the Vietnam war or the 2 black athletes who raised their fists at the Olympics?

The embarrassment isn't Ozil's. That should be owned by the racist mobsters who have been given a voice and platform in Germany's government.

It's his way of sticking it to those intellectual imps who can't see beyond race.

Are you ok? You just compared a Spineless sniveling twat playing the PR game with real men like Ali?

Are you really serious?

Lord have mercy

[anikulapo]

And you believe I haven't given to the German cause? You are very funny.
I'm fluent in German. I lived in Germany, have a masters degree from a German University. Worked in Germany and worked for German companies outside of Germany ... Duh !!!
Bepanda

Bepanda, Jobless - please drop it. Until you've given as much as Ozil gave for the German cause and drank the bitter water he's been forced to swallow, your comments are irrelevant. He expected a standard and a level of treatment from the same people he had tried to represent but got......

#WeSupportOzil

You dey waste with a brainless palm wine Tapper looking for attention. ....

[anikulapo]

So Ozil is the new Ali?
This is why people don't take genuine Racism claims seriously anymore.
Every clown can now claim he is the victim. of racism, and he is elevated and compared to people whose lives were impacted by real injustice.
What's funny ... is people keep falling for this trick.
Remember how many games he refused to show up for Arsenal last season after signing his $350k/week deal?
He was always "hurt", and people excused him saying he played the whole season injured. He was still injured at the world cup? Because he stunk really bad...
Has he had any surgery? Who knows ... the season starts soon ... so we will see how "injured" he is.
Ozil is the KING of apologists ... And his fans aren't far behind.
Bepanda

To some any you guys lambasting Ozil what would you have said of Mohammed Ali refusing to fight in the Vietnam war or the 2 black athletes who raised their fists at the Olympics?
The embarrassment isn't Ozil's. That should be owned by the racist mobsters who have been given a voice and platform in Germany's government.
It's his way of sticking it to those intellectual imps who can't see beyond race.

I suspect they would have reacted the way the great Jesse Owens reacted

Remember those African American boxers who refused to call Ali his new name to appease massa. Germans know he has hit hard.

Only total ignoramuses or borderline imbeciles would dare make the comparison .... wetin man no go read on CE ..... that has got to be one of the dumbest statements on CE (and that’s saying a lot )

What thinking person would compare a legend and a hero like Ali to a Spineless chihuahua ?