President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said German-Turkish footballer Mesut Özil has displayed a “national and native stance” by quitting the German national over what he called racism in Germany.
DFB insists footballer should explain Erdogan meeting, as Turkish and German politicians slam treatment Ozil received.
Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil’s decision to quit international football has brought criticism from some, and sympathy from others.
Mesut Özil on July 23 was warmly applauded by Turkey but faced uproar at home in Germany after announcing he was quitting the German national football team, lambasting “racism” over criticism for the side’s World Cup debacle.
Germany’s football association rejects allegations of racism from Mesut Ozil but accepts it could have done more to protect him from abuse.
The hometown of Turkish-German football star Mesut Özil will soon replace his photo in a German national team jersey with another one in which he is seen with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Footballer Mesut Özil said on July 22 that he had no regrets about his photograph with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that sparked questions about his loyalty to Germany’s national squad ahead of the World Cup.
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