Mesut Ozil’s retirement from International football has sent shockwaves through the football community with many coming to his defence.
The midfielder released a 3-part statement on his social media in which he explained the photo with Erdogan and also took swipes at the DFB and media partners and sponsors who refused to stand by him.
Twitter users have responded to this storm with many coming to his defense and hailing him for all he had done.
Below are some of the responses to Ozil’s retirement:
Frosty Gooner said: “You forgot South Africa. You forgot Brazil. You forgot 65+ goal contributions. You forgot 5 German POTYs. You’re forgetting the soul of this generation’s Mannschaft. Congratulations @DFB_Team_EN! May you get what’s coming to you. #Ozil #IstandWithÖzil #Arsenal #AFC”
You forgot South Africa. You forgot Brazil. You forgot 65+ goal contributions. You forgot 5 German POTYs. You're forgetting the soul of this generation's Mannschaft. Congratulations @DFB_Team_EN! May you get what's coming to you. #Ozil #IstandWithÖzil #Arsenal #AFC pic.twitter.com/eMMa5m5yt3
— FrostyGooner Mo (@GoonerFrosty) July 22, 2018
Another Twitter user, Andrew Thompson explained that while taking a photo with Erdogan wasn’t the smartest thing to do, the backlash has been too much: “Think this needs to be cleared up here; no one is saying that what #Ozil did with taking a photo with Erdogan wasn’t questionable at the very least. It was not smart; be mad and annoyed at that..perfectly fine. But turning into a racist, a bigot…THAT is the issue at hand.”
Some weren’t so kind with a user, Rick Joshua saying: “Mesut Özil finally says something. He has effectively admitted that he is Erdogan’s friend, but couching it as something else. His comparison to Merkel or May meeting the Turkish president is disingenuous. As is his trying to use his mother as an excuse. #Ozil #Erdogan”
Another user pointed out a statement from Ozil’s words and criticised the Germans for what she called racism: “The phrase by @MesutOzil1088
“I’m German when we win an immigrant when we lose” you could substitute the first country and that is literally the state of the whole of European society atm. It’s a disgrace.”
See more reactions below
As a Turkish girl who was born, raised and grew up in germany, I am shocked and sad about the things Mesut Özil had to suffer through. I am very well aware that we still aren't accepted into the German society, even though we have lived in this country for over 50 years. #Ozil
— ##nini ♡⁷ (@PEACHYH0Bl) July 22, 2018
Mesut Ozil was born in Germany as was his father. He won the World Cup , 5 Germany Player of the Year Awards…
A man who should be a national hero has been forced into retirement after a hate campaign, unbearable racist abuse & disrespect
His crime? Turkish heritage #Ozil
— Manboy ⚡ (@howardjeff10) July 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheGoatMagazine/status/1021121067996405760
Mesut #Ozil left the German national team after a big media hype in Germany. It's not the picture with Erdogan, it's the idiocy of the German people who are moving slowly but surely to the right wing since years. Thanks German media for taking away one of the best German players.
— Issam Bayan (@Issam_Bayan) July 22, 2018
Ozil claimed "disrespect and racism" were reasons for his international retirement. Bullshit. He posed for a picture with the Turkish leader Erdogan and called him "My President" before the WC. If I was a German fan I'd wonder what the hell is he doing playing for us then. #Ozil
— Luke O' Connor 🇮🇪 (@LOCthedreamer1) July 22, 2018
Funny that #Ozil was given shit for taking a picture with Erdogan when EU pays Turkey millions every year to relocate migrants and Refugees to Turkey. Where's the same outrage about EU's Safe country practices? Isn't Germany still part of the EU? Yeye
— Ogbugo Ukaha (@OOUFE) July 22, 2018
How can #Ozil do a PR stunt with a politician that is not popular in his country and not expect backlash?
if he loves Turkey this much why didn't he play for them in the first place??
— Salihu (@Salihu_Alkali) July 22, 2018
After #Ozil and #Salah criticism from some people in the western society.. i wonder if these people will react the same if they had a picture with a kids killer like benjamin Netanyahu? Of course not, hypocrites pic.twitter.com/3l32eikZJW
— أحمد عطا – Ahmed Atta (@ahmedatta0) July 22, 2018
If #Ozil is treated like this imagine Rudiger and Leroy Sane! #istandwithozil
— Rocket Man (@theozimbo) July 22, 2018
And then there's Germany again that won't learn from their past.
I feel disillusionment watching them coming toward thing's they loathe. #Ozil, this person should've been respected after what all glory he brought you guy's. #GermanyMustRespectToOEzil
— Shreya Yadav (@ShreyaMYadav) July 23, 2018
Ozil is on the plane to Singapore with the Arsenal squad where they will play PSG and Atletico Madrid before a trip to Ireland to play Chelsea.
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