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Ilkay Gündogan and Mesut Ozil, with Cenk Tosun of Everton, pose with the Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended Mesut Ozil, a German footballer of Turkish origin who was criticized for posing with the Turkish leader.
Ozil, 29, left international football in July, citing "racism and disrespect" in Germany about the photos.
But President Erdogan said: "Should we lynch a German player who plays in our country when he takes a picture with Frau Merkel?" [the German chancellor]? "
Erdogan will travel to Germany this week to try to repair strained bilateral relations.
In March 2017, Erdogan compared German officials to the Nazis. The insult came after the German authorities canceled rallies he hoped would attract Turkish voters to Germany before an important referendum he won.
Berlin has also criticized Erdogan for his crackdown on political opponents following a coup attempt in Turkey in 2016.
What does President Erdogan say?
In an interview with German Funke Mediengruppe, the Turkish leader said that Ozil had "nothing to regret".
He said that the Arsenal midfielder – as well as Manchester City's Ilkay Gündogan, who had also posed for photos with the Turkish president in May – "feel at home in both countries – the country where they were born".
And referring to Ozil's decision to leave international football, Erdogan said: "He has not left the national team for no reason. racist attacks and insults would have had the same reaction ".
During the meeting with Erdogan in London, where the Turkish international Everton was also present, Cenk Tosun, Ozil and Gündogan presented the president with football jerseys.
The images were then published by the ruling AK party in Turkey before the June Turkish presidential elections, won by Erdogan.
Some German politicians said it seemed that both footballers were supporting Mr. Erdogan, which they denied.
How did Ozil explain his decision to leave the internationals?
He said he received hate mail and threats and was accused of the disappointment of the World Cup in Russia this summer.
"I'm German when you win, but I'm an immigrant when you lose," Ozil said.
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AFP / Getty Images
Mesut Ozil (left) and Per Mertesacker celebrate after winning the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina in Brazil
The third generation Turkish-German was born in Gelsenkirchen and was a key member of the victorious team of his country in 2014.
He has 92 caps and fans have voted him the national team 's five – time player since 2011.
But Ozil said his recent treatment had made him "no longer want to wear the jersey of the German national team".
In a long statement posted on social media, he said that he did not feel accepted in German society despite paying taxes, donating to good causes and winning a World Cup.
