Germany in shock after the international retirement of Mesut Özil, who claims to be a victim of "racism"

2018-07-23T17: 17: 13.449Z – Hamza Hizzir

One would think that if Germany had won the 2018 World Cup, it would have spared the controversy that the wavers this Monday. But it would be a little quick to forget the rain of racist comments, in France and abroad, which followed the coronation of the Blues. Immigration issues are gripping the whole of Europe and this time it is the announcement by Mesut Özil, the Turkish-born playmaker of the Mannschaft, of his international retirement that crystallizes these tensions. [19659005] In question: the photo taken by the German footballer, in May, with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "I have two hearts, a German and a Turkish", then justified Özil to try to calm the outcry triggered by this shot, while many voices raised to demand the exclusion of the player from the national team. In vain. The coach, Joachim Löw, kept him in his eleven. And Germany was finally pitifully eliminated in the first round of the World Cup. "We should have thought of doing without him," said Mannschaft manager Oliver Bierhoff, referring to "a lack of loyalty" after the fact …

Mute since this quack, Özil issued a statement Sunday to announce , at 29, and while he remains in Arsenal, a great European club, his departure from the selection. "I met President Erdogan in London at a charity gala, but for me, taking a picture with President Erdogan was by no means political, and the important thing for me was not knowing who was the president was to know that it was the president, whether it was the president of Turkey or the president of Germany, my behavior would have been the same, "he argues.

Before releasing this little bombshell: "It is with a heavy heart and after a lot of reflection that, because of recent events, I will not play international matches for Germany as long as I feel racism and the lack of respect for me (…) In the past two months, what has hurt me the most is the bad treatment of the DFB (the German Federation) and its president Richard Grindel. (…) I'm German when you win, but an immigrant when you lose, despite the taxes I pay to Germany, the donations I make to German schools, and the victory at the 2014 World Cup, I do not I'm still not accepted in society. "

Accused, the Federation replied on Monday: "We categorically reject the fact that the DFB is badociated with racism, with regard to its representatives, its employees, its clubs, the performance of millions of volunteers to the base." For his part, Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness, joining a media campaign denouncing "a resignation made of jeremiads disjointed" ( Bild ), has given a layer: "He plays for years like a shit, he did not bring anything to the national team, the last duel he won was before the 2014 World Cup, and now he's hiding behind this picture, and I'm very happy that the ghost "

All this led Angela Merkel to express herself through her spokesperson:" The Chancellor greatly appreciates Özil, a great player who has done a lot for the Mannschaft, and her choice must now be respected. . " Behind this statement of support, the symbolic character of the premature departure of a symbol of integration, undermined by the unprecedented rise since 1945 of the far right in Germany. Katarina Barley, the German Minister of Justice, said it was "a warning signal when a great football player no longer feels represented in his country because of racism." For his part, his Turkish counterpart Abdülhamit Gül, he, hailed Özil "who, leaving the German team, scored the most beautiful goal against the virus of fascism". One goal maybe, but the match is far from over.