Mesut Özil: First answer – DFB President Grindel admits mistakes

D FB President Reinhard Grindel firmly rejected the racist accusations against him. In dealing with Mesut Özil admits the 56-year-old but mistakes. "In retrospect, as president, I should have said unequivocally what is natural to me as an individual and for all of us as an badociation: any form of hostility racist is unbearable, unacceptable and intolerable, "writes Grindel in a statement on Thursday.

Das "applies in the case of Jerome Boateng, this applies to Mesut Özil, this also applies to all players of the base who have a migration history". Özil had resigned from the national team last Sunday and had done in social media for a coup against his critics, the media, the selected sponsors and the DFB. He attacked Grindel abruptly and spoke of racism in the direction of the DFB

"I openly admit that my personal criticism has struck me," Grindel said. "I do even more for my colleagues, the many volunteers at the Basis and the DFB employees are sorry to be called in the context of racism.For the badociation and for me personally, I reject this decidedly "

The case was triggered by a photo of Özil and Ilkay Gündogan with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the World Cup in Russia. "We live our values, which is why we, as a DFB, have criticized the photo with Turkish President Erdogan, and I deeply regret that it was abused for racist slogans," said Grindel, who stressed "The values ​​of the DFB are also my values ​​Diversity, solidarity, anti-discrimination and integration are all values ​​and beliefs that are very close to my heart."

The Demand Grindelwald's resignation over the past few days has not been mentioned. However, the former MP said that the goals of the badociation for the coming weeks and months, virtually excluding the resignation of his office.

Coach Löw keeps silent

"It is now up to the DFB to tackle three major problems," Grindel said. In addition to the purely athletic badysis and the "big common goal, get the contract for the hosting of the 2024 European Championship", that 's the treatment of the debate on the l & # 39; integration.

These and "the new sounding board for this topic in our society" The reason for this was to "further develop our work in this area and ask where and how we can establish new impulses", said Grindel: "For all these projects, we are working together with a great commitment in the coming weeks and months." [19659002] There is still no reaction from the German coach Löw, who would have surprised the resignation of Özil from the national team announced this weekend. Which is incredible. Özil was considered one of his key and favorite players

The text of DFB leader Grindel in the formulation:

"Football has great socio-political relevance. by the discussions of the last few days, the declaration of resignation of Mesut Özil triggered a debate on racism in general and on the ability of football to integrate in particular.As president of the DFB, I do not want

Sporting performance at the World Cup has called into question many things, and of course I wonder what I could have done better during that time. openly admits that personal criticism has hit me Even more, I am sorry for my colleagues, the many base volunteers and the staff of the DFB, to be called in connection with racism. the badociation and for me personally, I reject this definitely

The values ​​of the DFB are also my values. Diversity, solidarity, anti-discrimination and integration are values ​​and beliefs that are close to my heart. During my stay at the DFB, I was able to experience what football can do for integration. And I am very proud of what we do in our federation, in the state badociations, in every club.

We live our values. That's why we, as a DFB, have criticized the photo with Turkish President Erdogan. I deeply regret that this has been misused for racist slogans. In retrospect, as president, I should have said unequivocally what is natural to me as a person and to all of us as a federation: any form of racist hostility is unbearable, unacceptable and intolerable . This was true in the case of Jerome Boateng, it is true for Mesut Özil, as well as for all the players of the base, who have migratory antecedents.

Grindel: "We must draw the right conclusions"

We have established a common line between the national badociations and the presidium with the representatives of the amateur and professional sectors. It's now up to the DFB to tackle three key issues. First, we need to use the ongoing debate about integration and the new sounding board for this topic in our society to develop our work in this area and ask where and how we can define new impulses.