KABUL (SW) – The Arsenal midfielder, Mesut Ozil, has announced sudden retirement from international football over alleged "racism and disrespect" he has faced in Germany over his Turkish roots.
In viral tweets, he stated to have received hate mail and threats and was being blamed for Germany's disappointing World Cup. "I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose," Ozil said. According to the BBC, the third-generation Turkish-German was born in Gelsenkirchen and was a key member of his country's 2014 World Cup-winning side.
He has 92 caps and has been voted the national team's player of the year five times since 2011 by fans.
However, the team failed to get beyond the group stages of the recent World Cup in Russia, despite being one of the favorites. Ozil said his recent treatment made him "no longer want to wear the German national team shirt".
In the statement posted on social media, he said he did not feel accepted in German society despite paying taxes, donating to good causes there, and being a World Cup winner.
The controversy began when Ozil met Turkish president, RecepTayyip Erdogan in May along with fellow Germany international Ilkay Gundogan, the Manchester City player who is also of Turkish descent.
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