• Özil attacks DFB president Reinhard Grindel in statement • ‘I am German when we win, an immigrant when we lose’

Mesut Özil has blamed unfair discrimination over his meeting with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in May for his decision to retire from international football with immediate effect.

Özil was a member of the Germany squad that went out of the World Cup finals in Russia at the group stage and faced heavy criticism for his both performances and his meeting with Erdoğan, who has been accused of human rights abuses and has been outspoken about German politics as well.

Mesut Özil’s Germany saga is symptomatic of a world under strain | Richard Williams Read more

The Arsenal midfielder has Turkish ancestry but grew up in Germany and defended his right to meet Erdoğan in a lengthy statement in which he also attacked the German football federation (DFB). “For me, having a picture with President Erdoğan wasn’t about politics or elections, it was about me respecting the highest office of my family’s country,” Özil wrote on Twitter.

“My job is a football player and not a politician, and our meeting was not an endorsement of any policies. The treatment I have received from the DFB and many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt. I feel unwanted and think what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten.”

Making direct reference to Reinhard Grindel, president of the DFB, Özil added: “People with racially discriminative backgrounds should not be allowed to work in the largest football federation in the world that has players from dual‑heritage families. Attitudes like theirs simply do not reflect the players they supposedly represent. In the eyes of Grindel and his supporters, I am German when we win but I am an immigrant when we lose.

Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) III / III pic.twitter.com/c8aTzYOhWU

“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. I feel unwanted and think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten.”

Özil continued to criticise Grindel. “I will no longer stand for being a scapegoat for his incompetence and inability to do his job properly,” Özil wrote.

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“I am disappointed but not surprised by [Grindel’s] actions,” the 29-year-old added. “But when high-ranking DFB officials disrespect my Turkish roots and selfishly turn me into political propaganda, then enough is enough.”

The 29-year-old’s decision was attacked by the Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, who told SportBild “Ozil has been playing shit for years. He won his last tackle before the 2014 World Cup. All he is doing on the field is playing cross passes. Now he hides himself and his crap performance behind this photo.

“Whenever we played against Arsenal, we played over him, because we knew he was the weak point.”

Özil did not respond to Hoeness’s comments but said he had received abuse online, and claimed he was racially abused by a supporter after the match against Sweden.

“A German fan told me after the game, ‘Özil, fuck off you Turkish shit, piss 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 that I am not proud of. I am confident that many proud Germans who embrace an open society would agree with me.”

The German FA has denied any allegations of racism towards the midfielder, saying he made a “decisive contribution” to the 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil and praised his “outstanding performance in the jersey of the German national teams”. However, it said the photo of Özil had “raised questions for many people in Germany” and that “it was important to us that he explained it”.



The anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out has described the “racist treatment” Özil has faced as “disgraceful” and offered its support. “Those who have driven him to consider international retirement should be ashamed of themselves and his case should encourage all of football to reflect on how the game treats footballers from mixed heritage backgrounds,” it said in a statement.</s>Mesut Ozil has confirmed that he is retiring from international football with immediate effect following the "treatment he received from the DFB."

The Arsenal attacker claims that the way he has been treated by the German football association makes him "no longer want to wear the German national team shirt."

Ozil announced the decision in the third part of a lengthy statement released on his Twitter account, with the first part explaining the reasoning behind his controversial photograph with Turkey president Recep Erdogan and the second update criticising how the media and sponsors reacted to the incident.

DFB president Reinhard Grindel was the focus of the third and final part of the statement, as Ozil hit out at the official, claiming: "I will no longer stand for being a scapegoat for his incompetence and inability to do his job properly."

Following Germany's disastrous World Cup performance, where they failed to get out of their groups and lost to both Mexico and South Korea, Ozil was heavily criticised by the media and by the DFB, with Grindel even urging the midfielder to make a public statement on his meeting with Erdogan, also questioning his credentials as an international player following the incident.

Ozil detailed how Grindel attempted to benefit from the fall-out of the player's meeting with Erdogan, aiming to use it as a means to express his own political views and undermine Ozil in the process. He also accused the DFB president of racism, stating that "I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose."

As well as Grindel, the 29-year-old highlighted the actions of politician Bernd Holzhauer who called Ozil a "goat-f***er" and Chief of German Theatre Werner Steer who wished for the footballer to "p*** back to Anatolia."

The way Ozil has been treated by German media, politicians and especially the DFB has caused him to make the "difficult decision" to announce his international retirement, saying that: "I now feel unwanted and think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten."

In those nine years, Ozil has played 92 times for his country, scoring 23 goals along the way. He was part of the side that lifted the 2014 World Cup and also helped Germany to the semi-finals of the 2012 and 2016 European Championships.

Ozil also went with Germany to the 2010 and 2018 World Cups and was named national team player of the year five times.</s>In a series of statements posted on Twitter, the Arsenal star announced his retirement from international football. He attacked the German football federation (DFB), its president, fans and the media, criticizing what he saw as racism and double standards in the treatment of people with Turkish roots.

Citing anti-Turkish comments from far-right politicians and fans, Ozil said he would "no longer be playing for Germany at international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect."

At the time, the head of Germany's football federation, Reinhard Grindel, publicly accused the players - whose families came to Germany from Turkey - of allowing themselves to be "exploited" by Erdogan for political purposes. Some German politicians questioned Ozil and Gundogan's loyalty to Germany and suggested they should be removed from the national squad ahead of the World Cup.

Gundogan distanced himself from the photo, but Ozil refused to comment publicly until Sunday when he published a three-part statement in English which defended his actions and attacked those who have criticized him

"The picture we took had no political intentions," said Ozil, adding that it "was about me respecting the highest office of my family's country."

He also took a swipe at German media who suggested that the 29-year-old midfielder was partly to blame for Germany's shock group-stage exit from the World Cup.

"This crosses a personal line that should never be crossed, as newspapers try to turn the nation of Germany against me," Ozil said, noting that there had been little criticism of former

Ozil reserved his sharpest words for Grindel, however, alleging that the federation president had been "patronizing" toward the player, who was a key part of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning team.

"I will no longer stand for being a scapegoat for his incompetence and inability to do his job properly," Ozil said, claiming that Grindel had made "unforgivable and unforgettable" comments about immigrants and Muslims in the past.

On Twitter, Ozil said: "The treatment I have received from the DFB 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."

While Ozil said he had received support from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and national team coach Joachim Low, he claimed "in the eyes of Grindel and his supporters, I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose."</s>Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has announced his decision to retire from international football with Germany.

On Sunday, the 29-year-old revealed his reasoning for meeting with Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the World Cup – a decision which he was heavily criticised for in Germany.

Ozil, who posed for a photo with Erdogan alongside Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Everton striker Cenk Tosun, insisted that he was respecting his Turkish heritage and the public meeting ‘had no political intentions’.

But the midfielder has decided to no longer represent Germany’s national team following the backlash he has received for his public appearance with Turkey’s president.

Ozil claims he has been ‘belittled’ by DFB president Reinhard Grindel after attempting to explain the reasoning for meeting Erdogan and has revealed he and his family have received hate mail and threatening phone calls following the incident.

Ozil, who made his international debut for Germany in 2009, has been capped 92 times by the national side.

The midfielder also played a key role in Germany’s World Cup victory in 2014.

‘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,’ Ozil posted on Instagram.

‘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.’</s>GERMANY’s football association (DFB) has “emphatically rejected” allegations of racism from Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, but says it could have done more to protect him from abuse.

Ozil, 29, said he no longer wants to play for Germany, citing “racism and disrespect” within German football.

The midfielder says he received hate mail and threats, and was blamed for Germany’s disappointing World Cup.

The DFB said it “regrets the departure of Mesut Ozil from the national team”.

It added in a statement: “We emphatically reject the DFB being linked to racism. The DFB has been very involved in integration work in Germany for many years.”

Ozil was criticised by the DFB and in the German media after being photographed with controversial Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan at an event in London in May.

He received more criticism after Germany were knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage.

The DFB conceded it had not handled the matter well, adding: “It is regrettable that Mesut Ozil felt that he had not been sufficiently protected as a target of racist slogans.”

It stressed its commitment to equality, saying: “The DFB stands for diversity, from the representatives at the top to the boundless, day-to-day dedication of people at the base.”

Ozil, a third-generation Turkish-German, was born in Gelsenkirchen and was a key member of his country’s 2014 World Cup-winning side.

A month before Germany defended their title, Ozil met Erdogan, along with fellow Germany international Ilkay Gundogan, a Manchester City player who is also of Turkish descent. Ozil says he and Gundogan talked about football with the president.(BBC Sport).</s>Top four would be a success for Arsenal – Seaman</s>Arsenal have touched down in Singapore ahead of their pre-season glamour friendlies in the International Champions Cup against Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Unai Emery's side, who travelled on a private Boeing 777, touched down after a gruelling 13-hour flight and have three days to adjust to their surroundings before taking on Diego Simeone's men.

Mesut Ozil was snapped alongside his Arsenal team-mates, hours after announcing he has quit international football with Germany because of 'racism and disrespect'.

Ozil published a statement on Twitter on Sunday, explaining: 'The treatment I have received from the DFB (German Football Association) 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.

'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.'

Ozil could feature for Arsenal when they meet Atletico at the Singapore National Stadium on Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach 32 degrees on the day of the match.

The two games allow Emery to step up preparations for his first season in England as he looks to usher in a new era after the 22-year tenure of his predecessor, Arsene Wenger.

And Emery will also have a reunion of his own on his hands when Arsenal take on his previous club, PSG, on Saturday.

Emery had a two-year tenure in the French capital and departed last season having won the domestic Treble at the club.</s>BERLIN — Mesut Ozil is quitting Germany’s national soccer team after receiving intense criticism over his decision to pose for a picture with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

In a series of statements posted Sunday on Twitter, Ozil announced his retirement from international soccer. He attacked the German federation (known as DFB), its president, fans and the news media, criticizing them for what he said was racism and double standards in the treatment of people with Turkish roots.

Citing anti-Turkish comments from far-right politicians and fans, the 29-year-old Ozil said he would “no longer be playing for Germany at international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect.”

He added: “Racism should never, ever be accepted.”

The photo of Erdogan, Ozil and his German teammate Ilkay Gundogan meeting in London caused an uproar in Germany two months ago.</s>The German Football Association has expressed regret over Mesut Ozil’s retirement from international football but denied allegations of racism towards the Arsenal midfielder.

The German Football Association has expressed regret over Mesut Ozil’s retirement from international football but denied allegations of racism towards the Arsenal midfielder.

Ozil, 29, won the World Cup with Germany four years ago but was also part of Joachim Low’s squad which failed to progress from the group stages of this summer’s tournament in Russia.

In a lengthy statement posted on Twitter on Sunday evening, Ozil – a third-generation Turkish-German who was born in Gelsenkirchen – accused the German Football Association (DFB) of treating him with “racism and disrespect”.

Ozil claimed DFB chiefs wanted him “out of the team” before the start of the World Cup, due to the emergence of a photograph featuring him and Germany team-mate Ilkay Gundogan with Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The picture led to criticism of Ozil in Germany. According to the player, only the intervention of head coach Low and team manager Oliver Bierhoff ensured he would then take part in Russia.

Ozil, who won 92 caps for Germany, also revealed he and his family had received hate mail and threatening phone calls and been subjected to social media abuse.

In an extensive statement of its own on Monday afternoon, issued following a conference call by the DFB board, the governing body paid tribute to the midfielder’s contribution but also moved to reject any suggestions of racism.

The DFB said Ozil – who is currently on a pre-season tour in Singapore with Arsenal – had “helped define a very successful era” and “played a key role” during the 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil, as well as praising his “outstanding performances in Germany colours.”

The governing body, though, stressed its integration work was of “fundamental importance at every level”. It said: “We play and live together with our various roots, religions and cultures.”

However, the DFB felt the photo of Ozil had “raised questions for many people in Germany” and also “self-critically acknowledge” the organisation “played a part in that when dealing with this issue.”

While expressing regret Ozil “feels as if he wasn’t given enough protection when made the target of racist slogans”, the DFB said it was “important” for the player to “provide answers for this photo, regardless of the way the World Cup in Russia went.”

The statement added: “At the DFB, we win and lose together, all of us, as a team.”

The DFB stressed it “would have been happy” if Ozil wanted to “continue being part of this team on that common basis, but he has chosen otherwise”.

While not wanting to make public comment on some of Ozil’s statements from his Twitter post, described as “incomprehensible in their tone and message”, the DFB “emphatically” rejected being associated with racism in any part of the organisation.

“The DFB has been very active with its integration efforts in Germany for many years,” the statement said.

“We stand for diversity – from the representatives at the very top to the countless people working at grassroots level each and every day.

“The DFB regrets Mesut Ozil’s decision to step down from the national team. But it does not affect the association’s determination to continue its successful work on integration.”

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, who won the World Cup with West Germany in 1974, accused Ozil of producing “crap” performances for years when representing the national team.

However, Ozil’s club team-mate Hector Bellerin swiftly took to social media to offer his support and praise Ozil for “standing up to this behaviour”.

Meanwhile, a post on the official Arsenal Twitter account reinforced the club’s commitment to diversity.</s>Arsenal manager, Unai Emery would rather sign Ousmane Dembele instead of Kingsley Coman.Both French wingers have been linked with the Gunners in the past week.But according to Football London journalist, Charles Watts, Emery prefers the Barcelona man.“Kingsley Coman is a player most sides in Europe would be looking at if he was available – and Arsenal are no different.“He plays in an area that Emery would ideally like to strengthen, although I still believe Ousmane Dembele is the wide attacker that the club really want.“Getting Dembele out of Barcelona though looks very unlikely, unless they agree to a loan, so Coman would certainly be a player of interest at the Emirates.“But the fact is Arsenal just don’t have the money to attempt to sign him, unless they sell a number of players first,” Watts said.Emery is currently with the Arsenal squad in Singapore on a pre-season tour.
Arsenal and German professional footballer Mesut Özil announces his retirement from international football, citing racism and disrespect.