Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan insists ‘racism’ suffered by Mesut Ozil must stop
Arsenal star Ozil retired from the German national team after posing for a snap with the Turkish president in London
TURKEY president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has insisted the sort of "racism" suffered by Mesut Ozil must be stopped.
Arsenal star Ozil, 29, retired from the German national team this summer after posing for a snap with the Turkish president in London.
The Turkish-born Gunners star believes he was hung out to dry after meeting the controversial Erdogan.
Ozil cited "racism" and "disrespect" in the national team for his retirement - with Erdogan standing up for him during a recent state visit to Germany.
During his trip, Erdogan said: "Such racism must come to an end.
"Mesut Ozil, who was born and raised in Germany, was expelled from the community because he took a picture in England.
"I could hardly stand it as their president that these young people who made it to the national team, were ejected."
Following this summer's World Cup, Ozil revealed: “It is with a heavy heart and after much consideration that because of recent events, I will no longer be playing for Germany at international level while I have this feeling of racism and disrespect.
“I used to wear the German shirt with such pride and excitement, but now I don’t.
“When high-ranking DFB officials treat me as they did, disrespect my Turkish roots and selfishly turn me into political propaganda, then enough is enough.
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“This is not why I play football, and I will not sit back and do nothing about it. Racism should never, ever be accepted.”
Ozil also revealed he was called a “goat-f***er” by a German politician.
He went on to say that he and his family have received hate mail and threatening phone calls.