Mesut Ozil's international retreat raises issues of integration into German society



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Published

July 24, 2018 13:31:26

Sections of the German media criticized Mesut Ozil after he announced his international retirement, accused of racism.

Ozil's angry departure from the German national team elicited mixed reactions in Germany on Monday. The star of Arsenal announced Sunday its withdrawal from international football, just weeks after the release of the first World Cup in Germany. He attacked the German Football Federation [DFB] its president, its fans and the media for what he considered racism in treating people with Turkish roots.

These demands have elicited mixed reactions from officials and politicians in Germany. 29-year-old comments on broader issues of integration into German society.

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"I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose," writes the descendant of Turkish immigrants of German origin, complaining: "I am still not accepted in society". 19659005] Justice Minister Katarina Barley tweeted: "This is an alarm signal when a great German footballer like [Mesut Ozil] feels undesirable in his country because of racism and unrepresented by the DFB. "

The DFB regrets Ozil's decision In his statement on Twitter, Ozil defended his decision to pose for photos with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan two months ago, with his international teammate Ilkay Gundogan

. Gundogan defended the meeting as a "gesture of courtesy" that had been made of "respect," feelings later repeated by Ozil.

  German player Mesut Ozil with Turkish President Mesut Ozil

Photo:

This picture with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan caused a lot of consternation in Germany before the World Cup. At the time, DFB President, Reinhard Grindel, publicly accused players of being allowed to "exploit" for political purposes by Mr. Erdogan, who was criticized for his behavior of more and more authoritarian. Some German politicians went so far as to question the loyalty of the players towards Germany and suggested that they be removed from the team.

No German soccer executive has resigned since the elimination of the team last month and some seem ready to make Ozil the scapegoat. "For me, the photo was wrong, and it is still wrong, and the explanation does not convince me," said Cem Ozdemir, a prominent politician of the Green opposition. who has Turkish roots, told Deutschlandfunk radio.

But he said that Ozil, complaining that he is only considered German when Germany wins, could have a point of honor.

"Certainly [Ozil] speaks of the heart of many People of immigrant origin are not only of Turkish descent," says Ozdemir.

The Daily Germany's best-selling, Bild, has front page on "Whining Resignation" from Ozil.

The paper also published harsh comments by Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness, who described Ozil as "playing the land for years"

"Now he's hiding behind his picture."

The attacker commented on Ozil's perceived inability to attack, the former 66-year-old German international saying wrongly: "He won a tackle before 2014 World Cup.

"His 35 million followers, who of course do not exist in the real world, think he's excellently played when he does a cross. "

Hoeness also suggested that his Bayern Munich team has always targeted Ozil as a" weak link "when he was playing against teams with him." During his career, Ozil has only won two of the 17 games against Bayern.

The far-right Alternative for Germany, which has been particularly virulent about Ozil in recent weeks, has also piled criticism on Ozil. Mesut Ozil unfortunately turns out to be a typical example of the failed integration of too many immigrants from Turkish and Muslim cultural circles, "said co-leader Alice Weidel.

In a statement after a conference call by its leaders on Monday, the DFB said it was "very grateful" to Ozil, who made 92 appearances for Germany.

] He said that he regretted Ozil, "felt that he was not sufficiently protected as a target of racist slogans" but it was important for the midfielder to answer the questions in the photos of Erdogan.

The federation has said "very clearly" The DFB has been firmly committed for many years to working for integration in Germany. "

A spokeswoman for the Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ulrike Demmer, said the German leader "highly values ​​Mesut Ozil." She said she "made a decision to respect" while insisting that "Germany is an open country in which people from immigration are welcome. "

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned read too muc

" I do not think the case of a multimillionaire living and working in Britain says a lot about integration in Germany, "he told reporters in Berlin

" And anyway, the truth is on the ground. The fact that the Germans were eliminated from the World Cup has little to do with Mr. Ozil taking a photo with Erdogan

"I think that all those involved in this matter should think more or less well. in this case. "

ABC / AP

Subjects:

soccer,

Germany football,

sport,

Germany,

turkey

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