BERLIN (AP) – Mesut Ozil is leaving the German national team following criticism of his decision to pose for a photo with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In a series of statements published Sunday on Twitter the star of Arsenal announced his retirement from international football. He attacked the German Football Federation (DFB), its president, its fans and the media, criticizing what he saw as racism and double standards in dealing with people with Turkish roots.

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

He added:" Racism should never be accepted. "

Erdogan's photo Two months ago, two months ago, at On the occasion of the meeting of Ilkay Gundogan in London, Ozil and Manchester City caused an uproar.

Reinhard Grindel, the president of the German Football Federation, has publicly accused the players. to allow himself to be "exploited" by Erdogan for political purposes. Some German politicians have disputed Ozil and Gundogan's loyalty to Germany and have suggested that they be removed from the national team before the World Cup.

Gundogan distanced himself from the photo, but he declined to comment publicly until Sunday. Part of the statement in English defending his actions and attacking those who criticized him

"The picture we took had no political intention," said Ozil, adding that he "concerned me the highest post in the country of my family ". 19659008] He also took a shot in the German media who suggested that the 29-year-old midfielder was partly to blame for the shock group stage's exit from the World Cup. ; Germany

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Ozil but reserved his sharpest words in Grindel, saying the President of the federation had been "patronizing" towards the player, who was a key part of the winning team of the 2014 World Cup in Germany. "I will no longer be a scapegoat for his incompetence and inability to do his job properly," Ozil said, saying that Grindel had made "unforgivable and unforgettable" comments about immigrants and Muslims in the past.

On Twitter, Ozil said : "The treatment I received from the DFB and many others no longer allows me to wear the jersey of the German national team. "

"I feel unwelcome, while Ozil said he received the support of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and National Team Coach Joachim Low, saying:" In the eyes of Grindel and his followers, I'm German when we win, but I'm an immigrant when we lose. "

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