Not long ago, the story of Mesut Ozil, a professional soccer player who retired from the German national team, did not feel appreciated by the German Football Association. The problem lies in the issue of immigrants who stick to the mind of Ozil, a Turkish descent.
Reinhard Grindel is president of the German Football Association and obviously dislikes Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is Turkey's controversial president. The anger he showed after the May meeting between the Turkish president and the German midfielder Mesut Ozil let go of a row of problems culminating in Ozil. As a result, Ozil had to retire from the national team yesterday.
Before the 2018 World Cup began, Mesut Ozil fell victim to German media bully after he posed with Turkish president Erdogan in London. Actually, Ozil and Erdogan did not pose together. There are still Iikay Gundogan and Cenk Tosun, other proffesional football players. It seems unfair, if only judge Mesut Ozil at that time.
Ozil's allegations, because the photo is considered as a means of campaigning Erdogan in his efforts to continue the government for 15 years in Turkey.
Mesut Ozil’s statement on quitting Germany
The problem, proven at the time of the general election in Turkey, the German immigrants indeed voted as many as 1.2 million who were Turkish descendants. Second, the political situation of the two countries is not conducive. After the detention of Turkish-German bloody journalist Deniz Yucel has finally been released.
Spokesman of the chancellor, Steffen Seibert, commented that the photo did not provide benefits, it raises many misunderstandings. Also with the chairman of the German Football Association, the Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB), confirmed that the photo was indeed inappropriate for publication, even embarrassing for the German people.
After the situation subsided and Ozil immediately clarified through his personal Twitter account on July 22, Sunday. "The past couple of weeks has given me time to reflect, and time to think about the last few months. Consequently, I want to share my thoughts and feelings about what has happened." Then, send an official statement by mail:
What complained by Mesut Ozil then replied by the board of the German Football Association.
“The DFB of course respects the special situation for our players with migrant backgrounds, but football and the DFB stands for values that Mr. Erdogan does not sufficiently respect,” Reinhard Grindel, head of Germany’s Football Association said at the time.
“Therefore, it is not a good thing that our internationals have let themselves be exploited for his election campaign stunt. It certainly hasn’t helped the DFB’s integration efforts,” he added.
Additionally, Germany team coordinator, Olivier Bierhoff said: “I still have absolutely no doubts about Mesut and Ilkay’s commitment to playing for the Germany national team and how much they identify with our values. They were unaware of the symbolism of these pictures, but we cannot endorse it, and we will discuss the matter with the players.”
For a player accused of not having mental powers, Mesut Ozil clearly showed the courage to withdraw from the German national team, issuing one of the most remarkable statements ever given by a footballer.
In an emotional exploration of politics, race and identity, players who have contributed 40 assists and 23 goals in 92 caps explain why he can not consider playing again for Germany because of the "racism and disrespect" he has gained.
Ozil's work is as a footballer, not a politician, and the meeting is called not representing anything, instead of political support. However, everything will never be the same: certainly not for Ozil and possibly not for a full-fledged German national team with the kind of diverse heritage that is essential to Ozil's messages and decisions - nor is the country in Germany where questions of identity such as points of discussion.
On the other hand ...
“Where’s your tolerance? Your multiculturalism?” tweeted Erdoğan’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin. Abdulhamit Gul, the justice minister, wrote: “I congratulate Mesut Özil who by leaving the national team has scored the most beautiful goal against the virus of fascism.” The pro-government Star newspaper described Özil’s resignation as “a national slap from Mesut to the neo-Nazis”. (The Guardian)
Who is actually Mesut Ozil?
The grandfather of Mesut Ozil migrated from Turkey to Germany about 40 years ago. He became one of the gastarbeiter or immigrant workers who were needed to run the German industrial wheels. Many Ozil families have earned a decent living by becoming immigrant workers. At least from the financial side of their lives.
Ozil symbolizes migrants that do not fit the print. His parents were from the city of the Black Sea, Zonguldak, but grew up in Gelsenkirchen in western Germany. He is a superstar at Arsenal who dare to respond to the argument of the German-Turkish problem in English. The response of hardliners on both sides revealed symbiosis, because they criticized each other to isolate those who did not accept. Both Germany and Turkey share the "race" and "blood" ideas that constantly define the nation.
However, humans have always been human. Whoever they are, always seen from the title and story of his past. Although Ozil's statement is correct, that their meeting has nothing to do with political affairs. However, it is difficult to override Erdogan's status as president, which in fact both countries are not harmonious. Moreover, Germany's national team is not performing at the 2018 Russia World Cup. That way, the media will easily reveal the news they need.
Source: The Guardian, Channel Newsasia, BBC, The Straits Times, iNews (inews.co.uk)