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Ozil Retires From International Football In Controversial Manner

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Ozil Retires From International Football

Ozil Retires From International Football

As a result of the ripple that accompanied his controversial meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoganMesut Ozil, Germany/Arsenal Midfielder has announced his immediate retirement from international football.

While citing “racism and disrespect” as the reason for his early exit from international football, Ozil made the announcement of his retirement on Sunday evening.

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Ozil and his German teammate Ilkay Gundogan have been under heavy criticism from the Officials of Germany Football Federation and the German fans after they were picture posing with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ozil Poses with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Photo Credit: DW)

Leading  German football figures including Oliver Bierhoff and Ottmar Hitzfeld had suggested that both should not have been allowed to represent their country in Russia after the picture surfaced.

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Germany, of course, went on to crash out of the tournament in the group stages and after earlier moving to clarify his position over the picture in question Ozil again took to Twitter to officially announce his retirement from the international game.

The treatment I have received from the DFB and many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt,” he said as part of a lengthy statement. “I feel unwanted and think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten.”

“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 whilst 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.” he said.

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“This decision has benn extremely difficult to make because I have always given everything for my teammates, the coaching staff and the good people of Germany. But 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.

“That is not why I play football, and I will not sit back and do nothing about it. Racism should never, ever be accepted.”