Football
Turkish president Erdogan to Ozil: Nothing to regret
A few days before his state visit to Germany, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his lack of understanding about the excitement surrounding the photo with the national players Mesut Özil and Ilkay Gündogan. “There is nothing to regret,” Erdogan told the Funke media group.
“As you know, Lothar Matthaus met with Vladimir Putin. Our players should also be able to act with a clear conscience. I’m sorry for the people who criticize that, “Erdogan said.
Özil had receded weak ideas and the embarrassing World Cup out in the preliminary round of the DFB team. He felt left alone by the German Football Association in the affair for the photos with Erdogan and expressed in a three-part social media message in July racism allegations against the DFB. Since then, he has not commented on the controversial photo of Erdogan and the serious charges of racism.
“He has not left the German national team for no reason. Anyone else struggling with these racist attacks and insults would have the same reaction, “Erdogan said.
“Mesut Özil’s statement, German, if I win, but immigrant if I lose, summarizes the discrimination of players in Germany very well,” emphasized Erdogan.
Erdogan met Özil several times before the photo
DFB President Reinhard Grindel and national players such as Toni Kroos and Manuel Neuer had rejected the allegations. He was Özil, who was born in Germany and has Turkish parents, already “met on several occasions,” said Erdogan.
“Mesut is someone who lives in London. Why should not I meet him while I’m already here? “Erdogan said and asked:” Should we, if a German football player playing in our country take a picture with Mrs. Merkel, would we lynch him? This logic is incomprehensible. “Özil and Gündogan could feel” both countries belonging. The country where they were born and the country where their parents come from. ”
Unlike Özil Gündogan has not resigned from the national team. The Manchester City midfielder commented on his photo with Erdogan before the World Cup. “Some reactions hit me, especially the personal insults. I understand that the action does not have to be good, “said Gündogan, emphasizing:” In recent years, we have done much to promote integration in Germany. “
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