Germany’s star player, who has Turkish origins, has been criticized by German politicians and media outlets after he met President Erdoğan in May, ahead of elections in Turkey.
In a series of tweets on Sunday, Ozil defended his meeting with Erdoğan during a charitable event in London, saying a picture with the Turkish president was not about politics or elections. “It was about me respecting the highest office of my family’s country,” he said. “Whatever the outcome would’ve been in this previous election, or the election before that, I would have still taken the picture,” he added.
“I AM GERMAN WHEN WE WIN, IMMIGRANT WHEN WE LOSE”
The 29-year-old star strongly criticized German media outlets for questioning his loyalty to Germany, and accusing him, alone, for the failure of the national team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. “I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose,” he said.
Ozil expressed his disappointment at still facing discrimination and racism even though he was born and educated in Germany. “My friend Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose are never referred to as German-Polish, so why am I German-Turkish? Is this because it is Turkey? Is it because I’m a Muslim?” he asked.
“RACISM SHOULD NEVER BE ACCEPTED”
Ozil also slammed German Football Association President (DFB) Reinhard Grindel for mistreatment and pursuing a political agenda, soon after he was criticized by politicians and media for meeting with President Erdoğan. “I used to wear the German shirt with such pride, but now I don’t,” he said, adding that it has been an “extremely difficult” decision for him. “But when high-ranking DFP officials treat me as they did, disrespect my Turkish roots and selfishly turn me into political propaganda, then enough is enough,” he said. “Racism should never, ever be accepted,” he stressed.