TEHRAN, July 23 - Turkey has praised a decision by German soccer star Mesut Ozil to quit the national team for being subjected to “racism and disrespect” over his Turkish roots following his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan back in May.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) -Turkey has praised a decision by German soccer star Mesut Ozil to quit the national team for being subjected to “racism and disrespect” over his Turkish roots following his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan back in May.
In a lengthy post on social media on Sunday, the 29-year-old attacking midfielder announced that he would no longer be playing for Germany. The Arsenal midfielder said he had been receiving hate mails, threatening phone calls and comments on social media over posing for a photo with Erdogan back in May in London.
In response, Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul congratulated Ozil in a Twitter post on Monday, saying by leaving the German national team, the player “has scored the most beautiful goal against the virus of fascism.”
Turkey’s Sports Minister Mehmet Kasapoglu also reacted to Ozil’s decision by posting the picture of a smiling Ozil with Erdogan.
“We sincerely support the honorable stance that our brother Mesut Ozil has taken,” he wrote on Twitter.
Ozil has also been blamed over the past weeks for Germany’s worst World Cup performance in eight decades.
“I used to wear the German shirt with such pride and excitement, but now I don't. I feel unwanted and think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten,” Ozil said.
Source:presstv
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