Hoeness told reporters in Munich “I’m glad the nightmare is over,” which was met with outrage on social media
German Bayern Munich football club President Uli Hoeness weighed in on Turkish-origin star Mesut Özil retiring from the German side, citing the racism and discrimination he faced from team officials.
Commenting on the news about the 29-year-old star quitting the German national team, Hoeness told reporters in Munich “I’m glad the nightmare is over,” which was met with outrage on social media.
"The last tackle he won was before the 2014 World Cup. And now he is hiding himself and his poor performances behind this photo."
Footballer Mesut Ozil announced Sunday his retirement from Germany’s national team, citing "racism and disrespect".
"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 while I have this feeling of racism and disrespect," the player said in a series of social media posts on Sunday.
"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."
Germany’s star player, who has Turkish origins, has been criticized by German politicians and media outlets after he met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in May, ahead of elections in Turkey.
Ozil defended a meeting with Erdogan during a charity event in London, saying a picture with the Turkish president was not about politics or elections.
“It was about me respecting the highest office of my family’s country,” he said.
“Whatever the outcome would’ve been in this previous election, or the election before that, I would have still taken the picture,” he added.
The 29-year-old star strongly criticized German media outlets for questioning his loyalty to Germany, and accusing him, alone, for the failure of national team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose,” he said.
